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  #1  
Old 20-11-10, 12:01 PM
tommy cooper tommy cooper is offline
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Default special proficiency

Hi can anyone help ?

In WW2 you often see a trade badge with the letters SP(special proficiency) in a wreith
does anyone know just what the qualification was for this badge, and what trades it covers

Cheers
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  #2  
Old 21-11-10, 12:45 AM
John L John L is offline
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From Edwards and Langley page 77:

Personnel granted special proficiency pay or it's equivalent- Army Order 41 of 1938. More about who got it and when.

John
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  #3  
Old 21-11-10, 10:57 AM
tommy cooper tommy cooper is offline
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Thanks John

so it qualified for trade pay but very difficult to find out for what?

of all the books I have and they are mainly uniform equipment orientated
they show examples of the badge and many of it being worn but none say
just what it was for ,unlike the M and AT for mortar and anti tank training
that are well known none of my books state what it was for?

well at least I have a start though John
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  #4  
Old 21-11-10, 02:33 PM
grumpy grumpy is offline
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It was not trade pay.

It was a "special award for ranks below sergeant, granted at CO's discretion, of 3d per day after 3 years' service for proficiency above the average, with a limit on the number of private soldiers to be so rewarded". Subject to annual classification. Tradesmen as such could qualify.

As a matter of interest, which are the books with many examples being worn ....... in my experience they are not too often seen in photos?

[I am the Langley of Edwards & Langley]

Last edited by grumpy; 21-11-10 at 02:33 PM. Reason: typo
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  #5  
Old 21-11-10, 04:54 PM
tommy cooper tommy cooper is offline
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Hi Grumpy
Many thanks for that answer two of the photos I can think of are
BRITISH ARMY UNIFORMS AND INSIGNIA by BRIAN L DAVIS

page 61 bottom left hand corner, three Grenadier Guardsmen with good
conduct stripes and SP wreaths

UNIFORMS OF THE WW2 TOMMY by DAVID B GORDON

page 402 top left of page Coldsteram Guardsman with SP but no good conduct stripe


so to clarify its a kind of reward for good work done in your field of duty ,for those who were not holders of a

recognized trade or qualification badge say such as store man or clerk who was particularly good at his work and had achived

a high standard of competence

so in recognition of hard work the CO could reward the soldier with a pay rise of 3d a day but equally remove the privilege at his discretion
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  #6  
Old 21-11-10, 05:50 PM
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Paybook for REME man.
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  #7  
Old 22-11-10, 03:03 AM
John L John L is offline
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Hello Grumpy,

I don't want to steal Tommy's thread. I have looked through your book's and have not found any place where it says who would have had different color backings to their badges. As I have it , black - Staffords, r.reen - Green Howards, blue - Queen's. And I do wonder about the ones with red backs, I have seen them called for the D.O.W. but I have also seen D.O.W. that were just white on red.

Thank you for any help you can give me.
John
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  #8  
Old 22-11-10, 08:06 AM
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Default Special Proficiency

Here are my examples of the Special Proficiency badge - a gold bullion on dark blue and two on coloured backing:

http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...ictureid=23168
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  #9  
Old 22-11-10, 03:56 PM
grumpy grumpy is offline
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if demand exists I can scan the two relevant AOs and email to interested parties. Leave a PM if so.
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  #10  
Old 30-11-10, 08:39 PM
John L John L is offline
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Maybe this should be another thread. But when I was refering to color backings this is what I was talking about.
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  #11  
Old 01-12-10, 08:27 AM
grumpy grumpy is offline
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surely these were regimentally added?
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Old 01-12-10, 11:08 AM
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As far as I know the Surveyors badge (1960 pattern) should not have any backing, as none is authorised for the Royal Regiment of Artillery or Corps of Royal Engineers.
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  #13  
Old 01-12-10, 08:00 PM
John L John L is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by grumpy View Post
surely these were regimentally added?
I suspect that this is the case.

I have seen in said that the ones with the red backing listed as being worn by several regiments as with the rifle green. My question is two fold , who all wore the red and rifle green backed. And if there are others beyond the black and blue ones if so then who would have worn them.

John
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  #14  
Old 21-03-18, 02:57 PM
jamesmilitaria
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Here is a picture of a Coldstream Guards BD I have just acquired showing the SP badge and Good Conduct stripe.

PS - always check the pockets. Spare SP badge and Good Conduct stripe in the breast pocket.
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  #15  
Old 02-04-18, 05:05 PM
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Default Special Pay

As a side note, Special Pay still exists (or did in the mid 90s) although there is no badge for it and it is for a specific duration. I authorised it for my extended Recce Party when we made ready the Gypsum Factory in Sipovo in Bosnia.

Chris
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