Grenadier Guards Valise Badges
 

These are the Valise badges of the Grenadier Guards from William IV to George VI. Has anyone seen or heard of one for Edward VIII?

Best wishes

Gordon

I think there might well be one Gordon. Forum member 'Grumpy' would be a good person to ask. I understand that he has quite a good collection of Guards Valise badges.

But not an Edward VIII.

Bearing in mind the time lags before new designs were approved, made, and above all issued, I am not really surprised ............... and by the time they had got over the shock of his father's death, he handed over to his brother.

Even the Edward VII is rather uncommon: short reign.

Are you positive that they do not exist then?

Me? Positive?

Never say never is best with the regimental system is it not?

There's the rules and there's the practice, with 57 varieties.

I'd LIKE a VIII of course!

Yes, never say never is indeed the watchword.

It would be nice to know if they existed. Other items of insignia did, as did coins, so ostensibly it does seem a distinct possibility.

And postage stamps.....

Were these items "issued" ? If so, they would be in the RACD ledgers.

Grenadier Guards Valise Badges
 

Thank you all for your thoughts and contributions; i am most grateful.
Subsequent to posting this thread I spoke to the Guards Museum and was told that a Sealed Pattern does exist (and I assume they hold it) but that it was never issued.
That of course begs the question were they even struck and then held in stores? If so, why?
Given that King George V died 20th January 1936 and King Edward VIII abdicated 10th December 1936 it does seem somewhat lax (even "idle") that nothing was done in the intervening ten and a half months to replace them.
At that time there were at least nine months before there were rumours of impending marriage to Mrs Wallis Simpson. Was nothing done in this timeframe to "update" these items?
Does anyone have an example of an EVIIIR button to the Grenadiers?

Best wishes

Gordon

Edward VIII Grenadier
 

Hi !
Yes, Ed. VIII buttons exist , as does a warrant Officer's cap grenade. I own an officer's Blues uniform with Edward VIII buttons on it , which he was still wearing post WW2 !!

Hi John

Many thanks for your reply.
So we have evidence of some changes in this period albeit only to those items worn by officers.

Getting back to Valise badges however does any one know when this badge ceased to be worn? Was it during the reign of GVR or EVIIIR and is this the reason for its absence?
They can (or used to be) seen on the cover of the radio carried by the operator of the St James's Palace detachment of the Queen's Guard. (Has this radio been replaced by a mobile 'phone??)

Best wishes

Gordon

As far as I have been able to find out, the valise badges where worn (with lugs) on the Valise up to about 1908 or so. They where then worn on the folded greatcoat, and later cape (with a single large loop) until 1939. They were not worn when HSC was reintroduced after WWII so there are no QEII valise badges?

Hi John

Many thanks.
In his excellent booklet "Coldstream Guards, Dress and Appointments 1658-1972", published by Almark Publishing Company Limited, London 1973, Charles Stadden states the wearing of the Valise was discontinued in November 1905 and the folded greatcoat was worn instead. The Valise star was then worn on the centre strap of three. In October 1936 the greatcoat was replaced by the folded cape, folded 14" x 6 and a half", and the star continued to be worn on the centre strap.
Presumably this was continued up to the outbreak of WW2.
Somewhere I have seen pictures of the St James's detachment of the Palace Guard leaving the Palace and bringing up the rear is a radio operator. The radio has a cover, (matching the colour of the Home Service uniform jacket) upon which is a valise badge. In the absence of one made for QIIR (is this a safe assumption?) would this have been a GVIR one?
Are they still worn? Answers from serving or ex-guardsmen (I know there is no such person as an ex-guardsman, once a guardsman always a guardsman) would be most welcome.
Is there such a badge with a Queen's crown for the Welsh Guards and, if so, what is it called now?

Best wishes

Gordon

Gordon,
Yes!

See here!

Andy

Communications Equipment Pouch Badge.
 

Hi Andy

Many thanks. Communications Equipment Pouch Badge!!

What a spendid title, what is wrong with "Radio?" Is that the official name or one used now for the purposes of clarification?

So that has settled the Welsh Guards question; what do the Grenadiers wear?

Thanks again

Gordon