Grenadier Guards small OSD
 

The link below is to a photograph in the IWM archive of Capt. (later Major) Charles Henry Greville who served with the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards in WW1.

https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/i...ject/205295817

The cap badge he is wearing is presumably a small OSD, about 25 mm high (when measured against the buttons which are about 23 mm in diameter).

Does anyone have an example of this badge that they can show please?

Bill

Bill all i can think of is that is a small grenade of the type used on the shoulder titles. There is an OSD grenade full size, and it is mentioned in dress regs. I have one.
Andy

Small OSD cap badge
 

I have been told in the past that officers wore small OSD cap badges during the Great War to make them less conspicuous.

Maybe this officer was one who did.

Rob

Also quite common for some fusilier regiments to wear collar badge sized grenades in lieu of the regulation full size items.

John

Thanks gentlemen.
The shoulder title badges were similar to the the Artillery grenades, long and thin and I thought the officers' collars were bullion.
This looks like a purpose made small badge, but I have never seen one.
Bill

Another thought.

I have large and small bronze OSDs for all the Foot Guards, except the very scarce large Irish Guards star and the Grenadiers small grenade.

So it would not be surprising if there was a small 17 flame grenade issued as per the photograph and presumably they were worn during the Great War. I have no evidence for this assumption except the only marked small OSD I have is for the Coldstream Guards made by Jennens & Co, so pre 1924 and probably post 1900.

Any photographs of these in wear would be great.

Bill

My mistake, the shoulder titles have the royal cypher not grenade. Bill

I reckon its some button hole badge he has used here, non standard anyway.
Andy