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-   -   Query on SSgt insignia (https://www.britishbadgeforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18676)

jdkoch 18-08-11 02:37 PM

Query on SSgt insignia
 
Hello all, this is going to seem a strange question.

I have been cast as SSgt "Froggy" LeSueur in the play 'The Foreigner', and I need some advice on the proper insignia. Froggy is a British army demolitions expert who is visiting a US army base in Georgia to demonstrate to the young recruits how to "blow things up". The story takes place in the near past; 80's maybe early 90's.

I know from some online research that the uniform would be DPM and that the SSgt insignia is a crown over 3 down-pointing chevrons, but there appear to be a few different types of insignia and I don't know which is right for field wear, nor exactly where they should go. Should I use the sew-on kind? Slides?

Can anyone help me with this?

Thanks!

jeep 18-08-11 03:19 PM

1 Attachment(s)
JD
SSgt rank badge as worn on DPM combat kit of the 80's.

jdkoch 18-08-11 03:43 PM

Thanks Jeep
 
That looks like what I need. Any idea where to get one?

Is there a special demolitions insignia? I think the US army uses one, but Brit's might not.

Thanks,
jdkoch

jdkoch 18-08-11 03:55 PM

The next question is what color should SSgt LeSueur's Beret be and what insignia should be on it?

I'm sorry to ask all these questions of you all, but 1) I've never been in the military but for a short time in the AFROTC in college, and 2) I'm a Yank, so I didn't grow up seeing images of British soldiers in magazines and on BBC.

That being said I want to get this as right as I can.

Thanks,
jdkoch

Charlie585 18-08-11 04:35 PM

JD,

You could do a lot worse than to get yourself kitted out as a Royal Engineer EOD specialist. They invented the game of bomb disposal.

In addition to the rank shown above you will need a cloth grenade to be worn above the rank.

Also an EOD arm badge. The headdress is a dark blue beret and RE Queens crown cap badge.

These items are all available at minimal expense.

I will try to post you some links to what you need later this evening if you like.

REgards

Ry

ebro 18-08-11 04:44 PM

1 Attachment(s)
Attachment 46627There were two EOD units:
Royal Engineers and Royal Army Ordance Corps.
Either cap badge would be right for 1980's
Eddie

jdkoch 18-08-11 04:48 PM

Thanks, Charlie 585, I would like that.

Ive just found the information on the Royal Engineers, but of course they don't directly show what all insignia goes on the uniform, nor how to place them. Any help on getting it right is appreciated.

Maybe once I get all the parts of the uniform, I will photo myself and post it for critical review. British soldiers are rather thin on the ground here in central Pennsylvania.

Thanks,
jdkoch

jdkoch 18-08-11 04:51 PM

ebro,
SSgt LeSueur is supposed to be one of the guys who deliberately blow things up, I think he would be a 'sapper'. If I read the online information correctly, that would make him Royal Engineers, yes?

Thanks,
jdkoch

54Bty 18-08-11 05:50 PM

If you use the link below I am sure they will help you obtain (purchase) the correct items and tell you in which position they should be worn.

http://www.sappershop.com/

You may have to go to a surplus store for the Combat Kit as CS95 was not available in the 1980's. It would help if you knew during which time of the year you will be pretending to be in and what time of day, also indoors or outdoors. We have a mulitude of different combinations of uniform.

Marc

jdkoch 18-08-11 07:06 PM

54Bty,
I think it would be summertime, although I would think anytime of year in Georgia, USA would seem like summertime to someone from either Pennsylvania or the UK. The set is "indoors" and its sometimes day and sometimes night (although I'm not sure how that matters?).
In the play, SSgt LeSueur is not in his usual work situation, he's a temporary guest instructor (with live demonstration!) on explosives at a nearby US army base. Comes there for a 3 day seminar every year.

Thanks,
jdkoch

Charlie585 18-08-11 08:04 PM

JD,

Not wishing to take business away from the Sapper shop as last I heard it was run by and ex boss of mine but I think EBay would be your best bet.

Here is the kit you would need to portray a RE SSGT EOD in the 1980s to early nineties-Summertime.

Shirt sleeve order (Rolled up sleeves no jacket) before 6PM or if evening or doing a Demo Combat jacket to be worn.

To keep it simple sew the rank badges on to a brassard, this will suffice and can be worn on the Shirt and transfered to the Jacket. The rank is placed from the top, crown, grenade,stripes.

The EOD Patch goes on the lower sleeve of the Jacket (I'll confirm which arm)

Lanyard worn on right shoulder with shirt.

Alternately, you could wear lightwieght jungle DPM shirt and trousers instead of the other shirt, trousers and jacket. (U.S. Issue jungle boots are ok to use as well)

All available on EBay, I will PM you links when you decide what you need to buy that can't be purchased locally.

I hope this helps.

Ry

54Bty 19-08-11 10:34 AM

Image number 5 is the wrong pattern of Combats for the 1980's. The Bomb badge is worn on the left sleeve 61/2 inches from the lower edge, in shirt sleeve order it is worn on the upper part of the left sleeve. It is not a qualification badge, but indicates that the wearer is serving in a RE Bomb Disposal unit.

Marc

Charlie585 19-08-11 01:21 PM

Hi Marc,

Thanks for your confirmation of the placement for the EOD badge.

You are also correct about the pattern of Combat Jacket shown in the image I posted which is of course from a slightly later period than required.

If I were JD I would opt for the Jungle Combats with 58 pattern belt, Jungle boots and RE beret and badge this would keep things simple.

In the early nineties as a JNCO I would wear a subdued rank badge (Small flat chevrons) sewn on to a plain olive green wrist band and if my memory serves me correctly I thinks RE SSGTs wore the standard subdued SSGTs rank badge, as shown by Jeep, again on a wrist band.

I'm having to delve deep into my memory banks here and of course the idea was usually to avoid senior NCOs in order not to get spammed for some task or other, so standing gawping at their rank wasn't at the top of the agenda;)

Regards

Ry

jdkoch 21-08-11 11:12 PM

Thanks, all!

I think I will follow Ry's advice and wear the jungle combats, etc.

Would a RE SSgt really wear the shoulder lanyard into combat/explosive demo's?

And what are trouser twists and what does one do with them?

And if these was his own duty uniform, would he need the brassards, which I understand are usually used for affixing rank badges to uniforms for temporary purposes? ("Officer of the Day", "Duty Officer", etc.)

jdkoch

Charlie585 21-08-11 11:58 PM

Hi JD,

The Jungle Combats are a good choice.

Trouser twists are basically a piece of elastic with a small hook at either end that is wrapped around the ankle of the boot and the hooks fastened , the trousers are then tucked up behind it to blouse them. Jungle Combats actually have laces in the hem of the trousers but no self respecting RE SSGT in the 80s would have relied on these.

As for rank, jungle combats were a temporary issue item although many of us purchased our own.

I suggested the brassard in order to keep things simple for you as the rank that was actually worn on the shirt OD consisted of white tapes which were sewn on by the unit tailor.
I can understand your desire to wear the right rank JD but a slight compromise can be forgiven, it's not as though the RSM is going to have you stood behind the guard for being improperly dressed!

Due to "Junglies" being temporary issue we used to wear a cloth wrist band with a subdued rank badge sewn on to it, again made by the unit or camp tailor,similar in shape to the leather ones worn by warrant officers.

The subdued rank badge shown by Jeep would suffice and could be sewn onto the right arm of the Jungle shirt.

If you really want to look the part, don't forget that the REs had their own Para and Commando troops so you could always opt for a portrayal of one of these as well, up to you.

Whatever you decide, "break a leg"!

Regards

Ry


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