backing patches for cap badges

[davec2]

Hello gentlemen,
I have an ongoing project, re The Wessex Brigade ( 1958 and onwards ), I am trying to find out whether the regiments involved had coloured patches behind their cap badges.
Obviously I know that the Royal Berkshire Reg't, my regiment ( D.E.R.R. ) and the R.G.B.W. Regiments had the brandywine flash but I need to know whether the other regiments had anything similar.
They are, in no particular order, Devonshire, Dorset, Royal Hampshire, Wiltshire ( I think it may be a Maroon square ), Royal Green Jackets, The Light Infantry Brigade and the regiment they were the componet regiments for, The Rifles.
I am almost ready to mount these sets of badges, so any assistance will be greatly appreciated, thanks in advance.
Dave.

[Mike H]

RGJ had no backing at all.
R.Hamps had no backing either.
LI had a red felt backing between the strings and bugle horn (DCLI).

Im sure when Devonshire merged with Dorsetshire that D&D wore the new badge on a square green patch,its origin im not sure of.Also whether it was still worn after the Regt became DDLI.

The Rifles wear no backing just the back badge (Gloucs/RGBW).

[Alan O]

I think it was only one Bn of the Li who wore the red backing.

Alan

[Diehard]

Dave,

R.Hants - no backing.

Wiltshire - 2" maroon square (unofficially worn until the 50's)

DCLI - Red insert + 2" green backing square(worn until adoption of LI beret)

DLI - red diamond (size,date ???)

KSLI - wore a green outline backing - not sure of date.

These are from memory don't take as gospel - I've got some notes somewhere, largely taken from Audax's book, I can't put my finger on them at the mo.

Alot of the LI regts had green backings of various sizes/shapes until the LI beret was introduced.

Alan, Isn't it just the 1st batn light infantry with the red insert ?

Regards

Will.

[davec2]

Hello Will,
Superb reaction, many thanks, due to certain circumstances this project will not be finished over night but I do have all the cap/collar badges and shoulder titles and I have a comprehensive pile of felt ( thanks to Malcolm/Joachim ), which I think should serve me well, obviously, any more info or a change, will also be gratefully received, to coin a phrase, you're a star *.
Regards and best wishes.
Dave.

[Diehard]

Dave,

I started to mount my badges with backings, its a work in progress

I've got some scans of info from various books, as soon as I find the disk
I'll e-mail it to you. Give me a couple of days. I'm a bit disorganised at the mo.

I think backings is an interesting subject. I'd be interested to see a pic of your collection when you've finished.

Regards
Will.

[Mike H]

Once the seperate LI regiments became a single regiment they all wore the red backing.I did a parade with a Regular and a TA battalion both had red backings.
2 photographs of the 4th SLI approx 1957 do not appear to show any backing,but they are black and white.Incidently 1 shows former NI secretary Tom King as a Lt doing his national service.

[Toby Purcell]

Originally Posted by Mike H

RGJ had no backing at all.
R.Hamps had no backing either.
LI had a red felt backing between the strings and bugle horn (DCLI).

Im sure when Devonshire merged with Dorsetshire that D&D wore the new badge on a square green patch,its origin im not sure of.Also whether it was still worn after the Regt became DDLI.

The Rifles wear no backing just the back badge (Gloucs/RGBW).

The D&D wore a green patch that was adopted from the Dorsetshire Regt who had worn it behind their badge prior to amalgamation.