Wessex Brigade cap badge question?
 

Hi all. Can anyone answer the following for me?

The Wessex Brigade existed from 1948 to 1968 as an administrative formation and between 1958 and 1968, adopted a common cap badge, the Wessex Wyvern. In 1971 the Wessex Regiment was formed, consisting of 2 battalions and existed until 1994, with both battalions wearing a Wessex Wyvern cap badge.

My question is, Were the wyvern cap badges, worn by the Wessex Brigade brass or anodised aluminium (or both) and is the any way of telling the difference between a 1958-68 wyvern cap badge and a 1971-94 cap badge?

Many thanks

Tony

Tony,
The Wessex Brigade cap badge for other ranks was made in gold anodised and issued from 1958. As you said use of the same badge continued with the Wessex Regiment (Volunteers) through to 1994.
A brigade period badge would be maker marked J.R.GAUNT LONDON or with other earlier manufacturers marks. After about 1968 the J.R.GAUNT B'HAM mark would be more common but earlier and later marks could have been worn until 1994.

The cap badge also exists in silver anodised and there is an officer's version in silver plate.

Some more information in this earlier thread https://www.britishbadgeforum.com/fo...ghlight=wessex

Sealed Pattern from 54bty collection - shows transition from Brigade to Regiment in 1972

Tim

The silver anodised are poor manufacturing rather than design.

The badge was also worn by cadets and EUOTC and SUOTC whenthey were re-raised in the 1980's.

Tony, attached my Wessex Brigade and Wessex Regiment (Vols) groups for your interest.

Tim of course is spot on regarding the makers. Contemporary Wessex Vols would typically be marked Gaunt Bham or W M Dowler . . . but may well of course have earlier makers marks from Brigade back stocks etc. I have shown the bulk of makers variations with the Wessex Vols, however.

These include the silver examples, marked Gaunt London and Gaunt Bham. Alan is right, its more likely to be errors ( I don't believe they are found by any maker other than Gaunt) and I don't believe there are any records supporting their legitimate issue, i.e. for Warrant officers etc. However Gaunt badges are not 'generally' known for their colour errors (unlike LB&B) and the collars are also found silver. There are even less colour error collars in general too. So not completely impossible that they were bespoke ordered by a specific unit, but unlikely . . . however, they do exist.

C Company in 2nd Vol Bn carried over the Brandy Wine flash badge backing from The Royal Berkshire (specifically there is a hard red plastic backing). Additionally A Coy, 1st Bn wore the back badge of the Gloucestershire Regt.

The Wessex Brigade officers silver plated badge is marked Gaunt London. The Wessex Regt vols example is unmarked. Both of these are on horizontal ( east - west ) lugs.

Happy Easter all

Bess

Wessex Brigade cap badge question
 

Thanks all, that's really great!

Just out of interest, did you know that in A Coy (Duke of Connaught's Own) 2nd Bn Wessex Regiment, NCO's wore the old Duke of Connaught's Own, 6th (Territorial) Battalion, The Hampshire Regiment collar badges instead of the Wessex wyverns!

Tony

Thats interesting, thanks Tony. I shall add a set to my Vols lot!

Will post mine later - large number where obtained from R H Q of 1 and 2 Wessex on being disbanded I attended final parades and have somewhere photo's and booklets issued on the day
The only sealed pattern that I have -Pattern no 17672 ,22/ Nov 1972 is gold
J.R GAUNT B'HAM
Have some head dress and uniform
The person for all things Wessex is Bruce R -not a member here

Just to add a few comments to this thread.
The Wessex Volunteers were formed on the 1st April 1967
Re named 1st Battalion Wessex Volunteers on 1 April 1971 on the formation of the 2nd Battalion.
Finally renamed as the 1st Battalion the Wessex Regiment (Rifle Volunteers) and the 2nd Battalion the Wessex Regiment (Volunteers) on 30th March 1972
It was the 2nd Battalion's 50th anniversary last Thursday and a reunion was planned for today at Brock Barracks Reading, now postponed.
Please find attached a page from a document dated 1973 that was given to recruits for A Company 2 Wessex which mentions the Duke of Connaught collar badges.

All great stuff Neil, thank you for posting.

That's right and I need to correct what I said, It was the Senior NCO's who wore the Duke of Connaught's collar dogs, everyone else wearing the Wessex Wyverns. My confusing is with the Army Cadets who shared the Duke of Connaught's drill hall with A company 2 Wessex. In Connaught detachment (Hants & IoW) Army Cadet Force, Corporals and above wore the collar badge of the Duke of Connaught's Own 6th Bn Hampshire Regiment, that had been reformed as 383 light field regiment Royal Artillery (1947-66) as a beret badge.

Wessex Brigade cap badge question?
 

Just to share my few Wessex related bits.

My beret, 2 Wessex tie and Wyvern patches. Collar Wyverns and buttons. two Shoulder titles. Cap badges (end one silver). Duke of Connaught's Own Collar badge worn by A Company, 2 Wessex Senior NCO's/Officers. Board showing Duke's badge and wyvern and photo of me A coy, 2 Wessex 1989.

Hope it's of interest

Tony

Great photos, hopefully meet up at the reunion when it is rescheduled possibly in September. Neil

So 'Sailorbear' and 'Neil1689' - can either of you guys shed any light on the question of the silver anodised Wessex cap badge and silver collars at all?

These are found but suspected to be maker colour errors. . . .unless you have any insider knowledge of them or indeed if any of your former Wessex contacts may know?

Many thanks chaps

Bess

Hi Bess, will photo copy pages from 2 documents that refer to the silver Wessex Brigade cap badge tomorrow. Neil

Thank you for this thread,

Chris