Duke of Wellington's - Brodericks
 

I'm not much of a photo/postcard collector although I do look at ebey seller BUGEYE's postcard sales with envy - I'd rather buy a badge.

Here's one I do have and it's quite interesting as the OR's are all wearing Broderick caps.

It appears to be one of the 8 rifle companies and the battalion's drummers. They are wearing full dress tunics and you can see the officers and SNCOs in the front row. It looks to be circa 1902-04.

I do buy off him being a Military Band postcard collector (1908-1920 period). Whilst his cards may seem a little expensive he certainly turns up some real gems and one can see many inferior cards priced much more expensively at specialist card fairs. I would also add I have always found him to be a real gent and a 100% genuine dealer.
Peter:)

Hi gents,

I'm Quite fond of the odd postcard as well.

I couldn't resist this one, only the one Broderick, I assume that it is dated a little later than Keith's.

Does anyone know the origins of the naming of this cap?

By the way Keith, your latest album is a sight to behold, very nice indeed.

Regards
Ry

Secretary of State for War? the cap was not much liked and didn't shade the eyes. The same complaint I always had with the beret. I have a picture of our platoon in Cyprus squinting into the sun.
Matti

I had the same problem in Cyprus when attached to the RA, I often wondered why we were isued Hats , Ridiculous as we were never allowed to wear them.(Although I did later in Hong Kong)

It is a very small company, if that is what it is. Very strange composition: there should be 16 drummers if they are the Corps, and the SNCOs are wearing the peaked head dress, successor to the Brodrick. Very strange.

Are the men in the photo you're showing Royal Marines? They kept the Broderick longer than other units did'nt they?

Two more photographs showing the Broderick cap being worn post 1918.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hfx6GBDiVnU/TQ...duoft_0079.jpg

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Hfx6GBDiVnU/TQ...duoft_0061.jpg

From:
1921 The Prince Of Wales Book A Pictorial Record Of The Voyages Of The HMS Renown 1920-1921

Definently DoW´s. I did a 2400 dpi scan on a cap badge to check.

Sorry - meant the photo in post no. 4 - though I see that's labelled "R.E.s".

There were only around a hundred ORs in a company during the period of 8 companies (A to H) and each was divided into 2 platoons. In action the drummers were dispersed at that time, with so many men allocated to each company and, apart from musical training under the Sergeant Drummer, they conducted military training with their allocated companies so that their officers (for whom they would sound calls in action) got to know them. Ergo, with men on leave and detached duty the photo is at the strength one would expect of a company at that time.

The Brodrick cap was made obsolescent in 1905-6 but could be seen in battalions as late as 1910, depending where they were based and their associated priority for phased (waste out) replacement. Within this interim period the replacement peaked hat was issued as a priority to SNCOs, who had much bewailed the demise of their earlier 'staff caps' with smart, semi vertical peaks.

At 16 drummers to a battalion, a company might expect 2 or three as its drummers on the company strength. This shot has seven!

As for "leave" the concept did not exist as such, there was no entitlement, but men of good conduct were allowed an extended furlough once the training year was completed.

So, I still do not buy a simple "company photo" theory.

Staff caps were not issued to most of the SNCOs, the most one sees in a battalion is about 9 or 10, whereas there were some 45 or so sergeants and CSgts without them.

Staff status was accorded to [different regiments had a slightly different take on this]:
Sergeant Major
Bandmaster
Schoolmaster if in uniform
RQMS
Orderly Room QMS or CSgt
CSgt Musketry instructor
Pioneer sgt
Band sergeant
sergeant drummer

In addition to the cap, all wore the sword on formal occasions, with the tunic [frock in India] more highly decorated.

Broderick cap.
 

Here is a photo of my late dad, wearing a RM Broderick cap. With his three brothers and their mother just after WW1. Photo believed to have been taken early 1919.

The RMLI were the last regiment to wear the Brodrick [sic]. I suppose it was a bit like the sailors' caps.