RMA Broderick cap
 

Hi Guy's,

I have finally completed my new cap. Very pleased to have found a Royal Marines Artillery Brodrick to go with my RMLI cap. It didn't have the flash or badge so I had to make the flash and bought the badge at Farnham. I think it turned out well, what do you think?
I know it doesn't go with that tunic but it will do until I find the correct one.

Regards
Irv:)

Very nice Irv,

Well done and thanks for showing the finished article:D

Regards

Ry

Irv,

Excellent job!
Pedantic I know but it is Brodrick and named after William St John Fremantle Brodrick, 1st Earl of Middleton the Under Secretary of State for War 1900-1903.

Tim

Just across the Solent Irv:)

Ry

Brodrick from now on:):)

Very neat Irv ... 'Podge' would have liked that.

What do you think about the position of the badge on my cap? Most of the original pictures show the cap badge set lower??

Regards
Irv:)

Like this:)

Or this:):

So the next question is how was the badge attached if the bottom lug comes out of the centre of the globe it would have to go through the caps material. Or was the lug cut off and only secured through the flash with a split pin??

I take it there is no sign of a hole through the cap that you have Irv?

Ry

No sign at all:confused:
It would be great if there were some others on the forum to compare it with. In all the pictures I have seen the badge seems to fit flush. Also if it was only secured with the one lug you would expect to see at least one that wasn't sitting square.

A real head scratcher it seems then Irv. The answer will be out here somewhere.

I recall at one time there was discussion of a similar cap which if I recall correctly had input from member Chief Chum (Taff). It may be worth contacting him via PM to see if he can chip in with any clues that may help.

Good luck

This is my cap when I first received it. As you can see there are no obvious holes. The loop of thread across the seem is present on both my Brodrick caps (RMLI & RMA). If, like has been noted, that the cap was always worn with the red flash why have the loop?? Looks like it would take a badge with a slider?? More questions that answers!

Surely the loop holds the long 1903 slider (vertical shank) and the backing cloth conceals it? No lugs involved. For the Army the slider is shortened in 1906 following the introduction of the peaked cap.

That makes perfect sense, only not being familiar with the badge, are there long (1903 type) slidered examples known?

That would make a lot of sense. Have you any pictures of that particular badge?

That was strange. Almost the same reply:D

I have seen RMLI with long and short sliders. As the cap could be RMLI and not RMA then the slider and loop matches.

Definitely RMA and not RMLI. I have a RMLI badge with the long slider. I think the trouble with the RMA badge is it is the same size as the collar badges and you will never find the badges sold as collar badges, they are always cap badges! Might it be that the badges with the lugs are collar badges and the cap badge was fitted with a slider?? The only trouble with that is I have never seem a RMA badge with a slider.

All too true. Could you fasten the lugged RMA grenade thought the red felt and not pierce the hat itself?

The badge is attached to the red flash only on my cap. When the flash is tucked inside it will only go down as far as the bottom lug. It would seem that if the badge had a slider it would be able to go through the flash and into that loop of thread, thus holding the flash and badge in place. If you look at all the old photos the badge sits so that the badge is half one side of the red piping and half the other. This can't be done with a lugged badge.
Surely this forum must be the best place to find a member who had a RMA cap badge with a slider:D

I presume this is a guards badge.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WW1-ROYAL-...oAAOSwepZXRdHR

I've worked it out:D:D
I was right about the RMA badges with the vertical lugs are really the collar badges. The cap badges have horizontal lugs!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/WW1-Royal-Ma...p2047675.l2557

Thanks to BJ (RBJ Militaria) for his help.
The cap is finished and looks much better with the correct cap badge in position:D

Well done Irv,

Nice to see that you got to the bottom of this one and thanks for showing the result, a very nice cap.

Is there any chance of you posting comparison images of the front and back of both badges please? Showing the N-S and E-W loops, I'm sure that would provide a useful reference for future enquirers.

Regards Ry

Comparison Collar badge on the left and cap badge on right:)

The positioning also probably depended on how many wets the gunner had had the night before!

Hi Guy's,

I thought I would update you with my quest to place this lovely RMA Brodrick cap on an original RMA tunic. The inspection stamp is a little light, I think it reads 1911.
This is the result.

Regards
Irv:)

PS I know this belt isn't quite right but I'm working on it.

I have still never seen a complete, original Brodrick with anything other than lugged badges.

This was the original thread mentioned above with my posts of original Brodricks and showing how the badges are fixed to the peaks which are then fastened to the cap with a hook:

http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...ad.php?t=28138

Your middle photo shows a senior NCO with "best marksman among SNCOs of a complete unit.

So my question is, is he really RMA, or is he RMLI. I know little of the RM, but as far as the army were concerned, RA were not eligible for musketry prizes.