T8grenade title

[GTB]

I would like to confirm that the attached shoulder title fragment belongs to the 8th Bn (TF) Lancashire Fusiliers (or is it 8th Bn Lancashire Fusiliers TF)? I am basing my assumption both upon Westlake and on an online list of Territorial Bns of the Great War. Both sources indicate that the only Fusilieer Regiment to have an 8th Territorial Bn was the Lancashire Fusiliers.
The next point is that the ST appears to have been an officers issue as the material is OSD bronze, die-cast. A squint at the blurred scan of the back of the grenade flames gives an indication of this. Prior to now I was unaware that Officers STs were manufactured in osd bz. If it were not for the fact that half the grenade was still attached to the numeral, I would have been none the wiser. A plus point in always examining backs of items, even fragments.
GTB

[johnG]

From memory, there was an 8th (Service) Battalion Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment), but somehow I would not associate a sawn-off badge like that with them
johnG

[GTB]

Thanks johnG for yr input. Actually, badge is not sawn-off. Granted it's difficult to see in the scans, but it has a curvature where it has snapped off at neck of bomb.
Would a Service Bn have letter T also, or is that only applicable to the Territorial Bns?
Rgds, GTB

[Graham Stewart]

Originally Posted by GTB

I would like to confirm that the attached shoulder title fragment belongs to the 8th Bn (TF) Lancashire Fusiliers (or is it 8th Bn Lancashire Fusiliers TF)? I am basing my assumption both upon Westlake and on an online list of Territorial Bns of the Great War. Both sources indicate that the only Fusilieer Regiment to have an 8th Territorial Bn was the Lancashire Fusiliers.
The next point is that the ST appears to have been an officers issue as the material is OSD bronze, die-cast. A squint at the blurred scan of the back of the grenade flames gives an indication of this. Prior to now I was unaware that Officers STs were manufactured in osd bz. If it were not for the fact that half the grenade was still attached to the numeral, I would have been none the wiser. A plus point in always examining backs of items, even fragments.
GTB

It would indeed be an 8th Bn, Lancashire Fusiliers(TF) s/t, and could possibly be repaired. I'm unsure that it could possibly be an officers title, but one of our LF buffs could possibly put us right on that one, as this pattern of title wasn't generally worn by TF officers during this period - certainly not by the NF, nor do I recall seeing any bronzed s/t's being worn in period photo's of TF officers.

[GTB]

Thanks Graham, my thinking entirely. The scans don't do justice to the item but I can assure the Forum that the metal certainly appears to be the light osd bz, however I can always be mistaken in this. I am wondering what would happen to this type of bronze after being rubbed with a proprietary brass cleaner!! No change at all? Or would the coating be stripped to reveal a brass underlay? Can anyone who has experienced this intervention please advise?
Thanks, GTB

[Graham Stewart]

Originally Posted by GTB

Thanks Graham, my thinking entirely. The scans don't do justice to the item but I can assure the Forum that the metal certainly appears to be the light osd bz, however I can always be mistaken in this. I am wondering what would happen to this type of bronze after being rubbed with a proprietary brass cleaner!! No change at all? Or would the coating be stripped to reveal a brass underlay? Can anyone who has experienced this intervention please advise?
Thanks, GTB

There are possibly only three WO's that would be clothed in 'officers' pattern SD jackets, which could possibly warrant a quality s/t differing from the O/R's - Sgt Major(RSM from 1915) - QMS(later RQMS) & Bandmaster.

However in the case of the Sgt Major, most, if not all pre-1915, were seconded from regular battalions - clothed and badged as such.