Interesting DCLI
 

Picked this one up over here recently for 15.00 USD. I nice WW1 vintage Lambourne in which the soldier used a thick piece of oil cloth for the red backing instead of cloth. Also has a protective lacquer coating on the obverse and is slightly bent to the shape of the cap.
I dont believe that the DCLI wore red backings during ww1, or did they?

CB

DCLI
 

I had one with a similar backing.

Rob

I believe the DCLI adopted a red backing with the new forage cap badge authorised in 1898 for wear with the Field Service cap. It became standard wear with the Service Dress cap and subsequently all orders of dress following suspension of Full Dress in 1914. Whether it was worn in the line is another matter. It might have been considered a compromise to security, but I couldn't say.

I’m positive that JF42 is correct. If one examines photos of WW1 era DCLI it is very apparent that there is red patch behind the badges, the dark shade showing through the apertures is invariably clear to see.

I think it is the material used that is being questioned. Regards, Paul.
PS The Royal Berkshires who wore the Brandywine Flash for the same action I believe, also used various red materials. I'm not sure on the dates they used a red backing though-not noticed it in Great War pictures.

The Royal Berkshires definitely didn’t use a red backing during WW1, Paul, but adopted one at a later point. The patches were all connected with the same action at Paoli Tavern, of which Brandywine was a part, and relate to a night attack on an unsuspecting camp by a composite light battalion comprising the flank companies of a number of regiments, including forebears of the DCLI and RBR.

Interesting photo Toby, who's the VC wearer? Regards Mark

Bandsman (later Sergeant) Rendle VC. It was the only DCLI VC of WW1.

Thanks Toby, great photo, even better that it's not set up/formal, thanks for sharing. Regards Mark

I believe also the only bandsman VC

The Corps of Army Music CAMUS
 

Musicians of the Corps of Army Music (CAMUS) in initial trade training at the Royal Military School of Music at Kneller Hall are in Rendle VC Troop.
https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/c...hool-of-music/

Kneller Hall is to close in early 2020 when HQ CAMUS and the RMSM will move to accommodation at the Royal School of Military Engineering, Brompton Barracks, Chatham.

Tim

That’s interesting, Tim, I didn’t know about the relocation, although it doesn’t surprise me. I recollect the fuss made as to whether Kneller Hall should be retained or whether the Royal Naval (Royal Marines) equivalent in Deal, Kent, when a merger was proposed, but fought off. I’m intrigued that Brompton Barracks has been selected. One of the UK’s older barracks, before handing over to the Corps of Royal Engineers, it had been the depot for the infantry of the Honourable East India Company (HEIC), who then moved to Warley, Essex. I wonder if it is in part because of this long history that the Army has chosen to move the RMSM and CAMUS there, perhaps bolstering the RE’s desire to retain their home, no doubt after reflecting upon what befell the RA’s erstwhile home at Woolwich, now to be sold off with a view to cashing in on its prime, ‘London’ location’s value.

The Corps of Army Music CAMUS
 

This announcement has recently been made by the MOD:

In 2019, the regular Army band laydown was adjusted to enable several smaller bands to train and perform as larger bands for more significant Army events. Co-locating 11 of the smaller bands in three major garrisons and Sandhurst has increased the flexibility of CAMUS to perform at a huge breadth of events without compromising any of the traditional bands that have been performing for many years. These bands are organised as follows:
British Army Bands Catterick incorporating The Band of the Royal Armoured Corps, The Band of The King's Division and The Band of the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. Located in Catterick.
British Army Bands Colchester incorporating The Band of The Parachute Regiment, The Band of the Army Air Corps and The Band of The Queen's Division. Located in Colchester.
British Army Bands Sandhurst incorporating The Band of the Royal Logistic Corps and The Band of the Royal Corps of Signals. Located in Deepcut.
British Army Bands Tidworth incorporating The Royal Artillery Band, The Band of the Corps of Royal Engineers and The Band of the Adjutant General's Corps. Located in Tidworth.

So "the Army band laydown has been adjusted"!

Tim

That rather fits with the more permanent basing policy that has emerged since the end of arms plot management. Each of the bands is at a location close to the centre of gravity for its corps/regiment.

I thought I had posted earlier but in case it is of interest, the Royal Berkshires did not adopt a 'Brandywine Distinction' until 1934 (according to the post-war regimental history, this was intended as a boost to recruiting). It would seem that the Berkshires 'borrowed' the tradition of the 46th/2nd DCLI relating to the action at Paoli Tavern first published in 1851. In both cases the regiments put the emphasis on the earlier battle at Brandywine Creek, rather than the attack at Paol Tavern.

The regimental records of the 49th were lost in Canada in 1814 so references for the AWI period are sketchy. However, the 49th (later 1st Berkshires) did feature in costly fighting in Knyphausen's diversionary attack at Chadd's Ford on Brandywine Creek, and Captain Wolfe of the Light company was the only officer killed at Paoli Tavern ten days later, one of the three fatal casualties in that notoriously successful operation, so I suppose the Brandywine Distinction or "Flash' can be thought to commemorate that phase of the campaign as a whole.