13th Battalion (The Macquarie Regiment) officer badges (1953-60)
 

Hi Guys,

Here's something I have never seen before. A very nice set of 1953 to 1960 period chromed hat and collar badges worn by officers of the 13th Battalion (The Macquarie Regiment) during the 1950s. They aren't even mentioned in Jeff Cossum's post 1948 badge book.

Enjoy!

Mick

Mick,

As I mentioned on faceBlab, I have one silver plated collar... however I did not realise the hat badges were done as well.

Can you check to see if those specimens are done in chrome or silver plate? It may not be a meaningful distinction, since either finish is as likely to have been done as the other. Perhaps you can check from the provenance/direct source of the items, wheter both finishes were in use and whether they were worn by Officers as you mentioned and (perhaps) by the Band... or by the BandMaster etc?

Regards

Mark Corcoran
https://charliebravobooks.com/
Co Author of: “Metal Uniform Embellishments of the Australian Army” Post 1953 (the 'QEII' era) Vol 1: Insignia for Corps and Schools Etc and Vol 2: Insignia for Units and Regiments.

they look unfinished to me?
if they are officers version (and i dont believe they are) i would have expected them to be at the least silver and of better quality. these look nickel plated and therefore may be unfinished as some manufacturers nickel plated pre gilt/gold plating.
at best maybe band?
would be interested to here of any provenance as unusual to be only hearing about it now after so many years.
would be interested to hear of anyone else with knowledge of an officers version of this badge.
bc

They came directly from the officer who wore them in the battalion during the 1950s. I have his name and picture of him wearing these but for privacy reasons won't share them here now as he is still alive.

Mark - I'll get back to you with more info when I get a chance.

Mick

whats the issue with showing a photo of them being worn?

Just crop out his face ,would be nice to see a photo for reference for the future.

Rob

agree with Rob
i don't need to see his face, just the badges being worn would be great.
he would have to be in his 80s or closer to 90s. doing well still being alive and being able to access the internet and this forum.
bc

Hi mark
Have you got evidence silver badges were worn?
Be nice to see that pic to confirm they were worn.
BC

the Macquarie Regiment thread
 

BC,

Unfortunately no, I've got no evidence of the Macquarie Regiment wearing all silver or all nickle/chrome plated badges. In fact, with a nice bi-metal design such as the 13th, such a step seems a bit retrograde (at least to me).

Nevertheless, until Mick posted an image of a full set of chromed (?) 13th Btn items, I had no idea that matching hat and collar badges existed.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I do have a solitary silver plated collar badge in the reference collection. I've personally never seen a pair... so I don't know what its use may have been. Since it is a worn left collar and it still has its lugs on it... I assume it may have been uniform worn, rather than being a sweetheart item (which is more likely to have had a brooch fitting I'd say). Of course, it may well be an Association Badge, or just an individual's keepsake, or it may have been a Regimental Band item (whether or not it was part of a whole set)... I simply don't know and all I really have is mere conjecture.

One potential clue, is the collar has unusually long lugs... at least when compared to the standard collar badges. So, I will be looking at Unit histories and Band histories, to see if there is any evidence of it being worn as a sporran badge, or crossbelt badge etc etc

In the end, this is one of the occasional Unit-specific oddities which do crop up from time to time. So, until some provenance can be found for the collar, I think that it will have to remain unpublished in Volume 2. However, discussion here, does seem to be one of the most likely ways that further information will be found. Nonetheless, if some record of the item(s) can be turned up in Canberra's production approval records, I will post that here.

Yours in research and writing

Mark Corcoran
https://charliebravobooks.com/
Co Author of: “Metal Uniform Embellishments of the Australian Army” Post 1953 (the 'QEII' era) Vol 1: Insignia for Corps and Schools Etc and Vol 2: Insignia for Units and Regiments.

thanks for the reply mark
i agree with you, "with a nice bi-metal design such as the 13th, such a step seems a bit retrograde"
i was told many years ago by a manger at stokes that many manufacturers would nickel plate bitems before gilt plating them as it gave a crisper finish. i believe this is the case here? i have a few similar examples in my collection and will try and dig them out.

as you also say, "So, until some provenance can be found" that's why i hope Mick will post the pics of them being worn as he mentioned "They came directly from the officer who wore them in the battalion during the 1950s. I have his name and picture of him wearing these"

i have also seen and owned "occasional Unit-specific oddities". i had a gold and enamel set of 32nd btn collars supposedly ordered and worn by the CO (on retirementor not who knows now) and Dave WRIGHT had a unique version of a badge also supposedly worn by the CO.

chers
bc

bump back up
still interested to see pictorial evidence
bc