A Company 1 and 2 Wessex Regiment
 

Good afternoon, I would be grateful if someone could put me right on the following.
A (Gloucestershire) Company 1 Wessex wore the Gloucestershire regiment back badge on their berets and No1 Dress caps from 1967 to 1973. I believe it was gold anodised with 2 securing ‘blades’ at the rear. Did Officers use the same back badge or was there an Officers pattern?
Also collar badges for A (Duke of Connaught’s) Company 2 Wessex before they changed to Wyverns. I believe they were silver anodised. Was there also an Officers pattern?
If anyone can help in this matter, has a good photo of any item or even for sale I would be pleased to hear from you. Thanks Neil

The back badge in gold new metal with blades was an RGBW badge.

The Glosters wore the a/a with lugs and a pin

There certainly was am officer version of the Connaughts collar.

Thanks Alan now I know what to look for. Regards Neil

Neil

A Coy was Glosters and B Coy Royal Hants. C were the Dorsets and D the Berks.

The CO Martine Lee-Browne's book "1 Wessex A West County TA Battalion" published 2009 states that B Coy being RHants did not wear collar badges.

Hi Alan
I have almost worn out Colonel Lee-Browne's book. Excellent publication. Quoting from page 51 I would dearly like to see a copy of Dress Regulations, it would answer many questions.
Thanks again Neil

There was indeed an officer's pattern collar badge worn by A Company 2 Wessex when it first formed. It was silver with the central rose and garter picked out in red, white and blue enamel. Like the 1st Battalion, the 2nd Battalion moved to Wyvern collar badges for all companies around 1974, although C Company managed to cling on to the Brandywine Flash.

Attachment 254599

Wyvern
Out of interest, could you post a picture of the back of that badge, also its dimensions, please.
T

The dimensions are 29mm height and 25mm width. It looks like there is an assaye mark on the back. I will try cleaning it up to see if I can get a clearer image.

Attachment 254615

This is about a clean as I can get it but I still can't see what the mark is.

Attachment 254631

Thanks Wyvern, great information, now on my wants list.
Regards Neil

Neil,
As discussed above, the gold anodised back badge worn by A Coy, 1 Wessex.

Also the Brandywine flash worn by C Coy 2 Wessex. They did wear for a period, the flash in red plastic as opposed to sewn on red felt.

Unfortunately, I don't have a spare gold back badge, but they do turn up, not hugely scarce.

Regards all

Bess

Bess
Many thanks for your reply. Managed to get a back badge the same as yours recently. Wessex collection coming along slowly, learning all the time. The 2nd Battalion reunion has been moved to next year. Am hoping to have a small display of badges, uniform etc on the day.
Regards
Neil

I think I may have a spare gold anodised back badge, I'll let you know

Chris

No problem, good work Neil.

All the best

Bess