Royal Armoured Corps QC beret badge
 

An indulgence from those more expert than me!

I aquired the beret badge below together with a few other naval odds and sods (not sure why they were together!).

Its well outside my areas of expertese and interest but has piqued my curiosity.

Is it genuine and if so from what era, what parts of the RAC wear the badge - and on what colour beret?

Many thanks

Gyp

Not issue but sold commercially. Would be worn on a dark blue beret.

The staybrite badge currently is worn by a CCF and until recently Wessex Yeomanry and their ACF.

Thanks Alan - so no-one actually wears it as a cap badge besides the cadet units?!

Was worn up to the early 1990s in anodised by the Royal Armoured Corps Junior Leaders Regiment at Bovington.
Currently worn in anodised in the No1 Dress cap by the Band of the Royal Armoured Corps based at Catterick.

Tim

I take it that this cap is no longer worn by any RAC personnel?

That's the Junior Leaders Regiment RAC cap, JLR has been disbanded now so no one wears that cap anymore.
I wore one in 1988 when I was there.
The anodised badge is worn as said by cadets, and the band, and also has been worn by Regiments, mainly Yeomanry, who have been amalgamated and are awaiting a new cap badge to be made.
Hope this helps

Chris

Ta - I had an idea it was also worn by permanent depot staff.

The anodised smaller collar badge version, locally blackened, was worn on a red felt backing on the maroon beret by the Parachute Squadron Royal Armoured Corps in the 1965-1975 period.
It is still worn by their Old Comrades Association parading at the Cenotaph each November.

Tim

It wasn't worn by PS, I wore one as a Junior Leader

Chris

I have no idea if the white metal one in the OP above was ever issued as such, but I had 3 in my collection at the time when I was at JLR, I gave one to my mate, we both wore them totally unofficially while on exercise , because they were stronger than the staybrights.

Chris

Small world - I was there in 88 too - Blenhiem Tp! :)

Alma Troop👍🏻

Any idea when these caps stopped being worn please?

I would suggest worn up until around 1998 (although possibly earlier) when the Army Foundation College at Harrogate took over the training of junior soldiers.

Tim

Thanks (I wondered if the caps were worn up until that point or ceased to be worn prior).