British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum - Did Int Corps have badge in WW1?

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Did Int Corps have badge in WW1?

Hi All,

Does anyone know if the "first" Intelligence Corps that existed between 1914 and 1929 used the same cap badge as was used when the Corps was reformed in 1940?

Another guess would be that the personnel used their own regimental cap badges and were effectively seconded/attached to the unit.

Thanks,

Tom

From IWM :

Quote:

An Intelligence Corps had been created in 1914 and, in the interests of security, wore insignia of the Royal Fusiliers and took the title of the 20th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. This Corps was disbanded in 1929.

Thought it was 10th rather than 20th RF?
Royal Arms cap badges also worn?

Quote:

Originally Posted by leigh kitchen (Post 553988)

Thought it was 10th rather than 20th RF?

That is what other sites (including NAM) also state , I guess the IWM got it wrong.

Quote:

At first, the unit was officer-only. As a cover story, the officers' batmen were nominally enlisted in the 10th (Service) Battalion, The Royal Fusiliers.

This appears to relate to the question.

Jon

I have a couple of photos of RF men with the "10" collar numerals.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Postwarden (Post 553998)

This appears to relate to the question.

Jon

Not Very Secret then.

Big IC armband.

regards

Quote:

Originally Posted by manchesters (Post 554006)

Not Very Secret then.

Big IC armband.

regards

While of course most intelligence work requires discretion and goes unseen, historically, uniformed duties often involved the wearing of an armband as a kind of ‘warrant’ to enable access to locations and individuals, for example during investigations and POW questioning.

In WW1 the ‘IC’ armband was worn and at the start of WW2 an ‘FSP’ armband in black on green denoting Field Security Police/Personnel was issued, example below.

Following the (re)formation of the Intelligence Corps in July 1940 the armband changed to green/grey/green as corps colours. The example shown was issued to 556 Field Security Section based in Karachi and is marked Number 11, indicating a controlled item, an FS Section comprised one officer, one warrant officer and up to ten NCOs.

After WW2, from the 1960s, the term Field Security was replaced by Counter Intelligence and the lettering on the armband changed again to ‘CI’ although rarely worn I believe.

More Intelligence Corps insignia in my album https://www.britishbadgeforum.com/fo...hp?albumid=339

Tim

Quote:

Originally Posted by grey_green_acorn (Post 554045)

Fascinating stuff. Lovely to hear from an expert!

An interesting thread, I particularly like the photo Jon posted, to see the RF badge worn by a member of the Intelligence Corps.

Chris

Just as an aside, what buttons is the WO wearing in Jon's Picture, are they blackened?
Chris

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3dg (Post 554869)

Just as an aside, what buttons is the WO wearing in Jon's Picture, are they blackened?
Chris

Possibly impressed leather?

Tim

I can't make out if the buttons are plain, bear a design or are lleather half footballs.

Plain buttons with darkened finish?

Could be the leather ones.
Chris