Royal British Legion and United Services Corps QVC badges?
 

Hi guys,

Can anybody tell me how or why the Royal British Legion (founded 1921) bandsmen badge and the United Services Corps (founded no earlier than 1908) are both made with QVCs rather than K/C or Q/Cs? obviously both organisations were founded well after Queen Victoria's death.

Thanks in advance,

Phil

Phil, Both of them really don't look good to me at all. The HP itself might be ok, but the RBL enamelled badge looks so out of place. Looks like someone is having fun and games. David

Hi David,

I notice that Engr9266 (Jerry) has several similar badges to both the USC and the RBL? could they just be poorly designed / made?

Cheers

Phil

The story goes that the "star" badge with QVC were made in a large quantity by a maker(Gaunt?) and that they needed to be used so the British legion used them for Bandsmen then standard bearers then British Legion Volunteer Police Force etc. As for the United Services Corps I cannot find any info on them

Phil, a) As you commented, for a QVC era plate to have what looks like a buttonhole badge - its looks made up (and not officially either). b) I hesitate to use the expression 'poor quality' as it doesn't have any quality. c) it just doesn't make sense - apart from the fact that 'Royal' is in the title of the British Legion, thats it. d) I can't believe that with all the great traditions and work that the RBL have done - and still do, they would make something like this up using that particular plate and a buttonhole badge. Posting a picture of the back may highlight some of the points. My Mum is living in an RBL 'village' and knows a lot of people their. I visit her quite regularly. I will take a pic of your badge along and see what they way. Don't hold your breath.
Rgds, David

Hi Guys,

The RBL badge is 11mm gaunt marked, i will try to post a rear pic later but at the moment i am having connection issues again. Thanks David, I would appreciate that.

Jerry, I have a book relating to Corps of Commissionaires. The book says that the USC started life as the Veterans Corps and Employment Bureau in 1908. There is very little other obvious information on them. I havent read it cover to cover yet. The VCEB were very similar to the Corps of Commissionaires, USC folded in 1973 and all remaining 444 members merged into the CoC.

Phil

David, The Royal British Legion were granted the "ROYAL" title in 1971 when the queens crown was added to their badge.
If you look at this link it will give you some insight to this badge.
http://www.legion-memorabilia.org.uk/
Click on cap badges

I will have to find a few more Legion cap and beret badges than I thought!! Especially one of the police volunteer ones.

Phil

good info Jerry


peter

Phil, Here is a bit about the BLVPF
http://www.legion-memorabilia.org.uk...ges/police.htm
You may notice my name in there aswell.
Here are my BLVPF badges they are on the top line.

What you have to remember is that the QVC is in fact the St Edwards Crown and that the RBL badge is just an old representation of that crown

Mystery solved then for the USC badge too? cheers Mike.

Jerry, saw your name several times on the first link. I will look at the second link when i get to the PC. Where did you find your examples?

Cheers

Phil

Reverse picture of the British Legion badge.

Phil

I thought I would revive this old thread as I have just come across this photo which shows the cap and collar badges of The Veterans Corps mentioned earlier as a forerunner of the United Services Corps.

The larger photo from which this was extracted clearly shows that he is employed as a commissioner, probably in a cinema in the early 1930s.

Jon

What an amazing image. Thank you for sharing it.

I am yet to find an example of either cap badges or shoulder titles, for my collection.