Anodised Royal Warwickshire (Fusiliers) Regiment.
 

K&K does not give any details of an Anodised badge to the Warwicks. However other reference books do. I am aware that the Regiment became part of the Midland Brigade in 1958 and was absorbed into the Fusilier Brigade in 1963 and adopted the Fusiliers badge, so there is a fair chance of the Badge being worn by Regulars pre Brigade (Midland /Forester) mid 1950s to 1958? I have two examples, both identical and obviously from the same dies (fault mark to left haunch and excess material below chin/throat area). I am aware that the A/A badge could have been worn by non-regulars and cadets during the Brigade era. Does anyone know if the Regular Units wore the A/A badge? As to scarceness of Staybright badges the Warwicks must be (IMO) one of the least common, anyone sold or seen one for sale/sold recently?

I have show images below, no makers mark to the slider on either of my badges, but I am fairly sure they are both genuine? (Chris?)

Andy

As far as I am aware the a/a version is only shown in one publication and that is only a non-attributable line drawing.

I know the dealer who was selling these ones off a few years ago for £6.50 each. He had a box full and were sold as new and not as original badges.

I knew a (rather large) drill sergeant (1963-66) who wore the R.Warwicks BIM badge - and a hackle - and even though there were a lot of AA badges around at the time, I never saw him wearing one during this period.
david

Hi Andy,

This A/A badge is recorded in the CCN of 1963 and also in a document known as 54/Gen A/982(Ord.17b) which is titled ‘Yeomanry Regiments in Order of Precedence’.

The badge you have is quite common and sells for around 25 to 75 pounds. It comes with a distinct slider that has a heavy striation mark running down it as yours does. I believe that this slider is by Gaunt and was used on a lot of badges all of which are quite 'exotic'. However, I believe that they are all unofficial commissions and that there is no credible evidence that these were ever officially bulk manufactured. Of course, I may well be wrong but it may help to know that I no longer actively seek this badge for my collection.

Regards

Chris

Chris,

You may be mistaken here as the Royal Warwickshires were never a yeomanry regt.

Alan

Sorry Alan. Yes my mistake - same document but for this badge it is recorded on a page titled:

'Infantry Battalions of the Territorial Army which wear the Regimental pattern dress including badges and buttons etc. except as otherwise stated in Brigade Order'

Royal Warwickshire Regt is recorded as the 7th Battalion.

Some entries e.g. Royal Scots 8/9 Battalion have the note 'Retain old pattern badge'.

This document is between two others the first labelled 13A dated 10th August 1961 and the second 20A dated 15th November 1961 in file WO32/20559 held at the National Archives, Kew, England.

Whether it was made or not though is a totally different question...

Regards

Chris

Chris,
thanks as always for your "Spot On" answers... I have two of these as previously mentioned, so one will be on the obvious pretty soon! It definately looks like a product of the late 50s and I will certainly be keeping the other one in my own collection!

Best regards.

Andy

I have a pair of a/a shoulder titles: RWARF.
Were these worn with the Royal Warwickshire capbadge or with the Fusiliers Brigade badge?

Phil

In a 'career' collecting bits of Royal Warwicks, never saw an anodised cap badge anywhere (including the museum, dealers, auctions) until relatively recently - five years? So I think they are 'commissioned' pieces (the most polite thing I can call it). I bought one cheaply and 'filed' it.

The RWARF shoulder title, in all pictures I have seen in wear, were with a Fusilier Brigade (later RRF) cap badge. Took a long time to find an R WAR F title, and I was constantly taunted of a press picture of Roy Wood (of Wizzard fame) wearing an Army greatcoat festooned in badges, with an RWARF title on the lapel!

Phil,i think these came in after 1963 when the Fusiliers bit was added to the regimental title.
Again as has been discussed before (other regts) anodised collars exist in all silver.
The antelope major also wore an arm badge on the lower arm(right i think),same as the collar badge facing right.

Chris,

The 7th was the Territorial Bn as the 1st Bn was wearing the Brigade badges from 1958. Interesting that the TA RScots still had enough old metal ones left.

Alan

Of the two badges I have, the second came into my possesion only last week. The first however came as part of a very large collection which I bought a few years back. The collection had be amassed over a long period with the collector passing away in the early eighties the whole collection had sat in a garage for 15 years and only sold by his son when he was moving and put the house up for sale. Most of the badges were framed and dated on the back, which I assume was the date the frame was put together! The Warwicks A/A badge was placed under glass in 1976. Therefore I doubt very much if prior to that anyone could afford to make a fake as the process of manufacturing Anodised Aluminium badges is expensive and complicated, not something you can knock out in a garden shed! I have seen a few recent attempts to make copies, they are very bright, do not have the detail of correctly manufactured badges and the finish appears almost painted on!

I am happy with the opinions that this badge was not worn by regular units. Thanks to the information supplied by Chris, there is evidence that it was authorised for manufacture... and very likely made by Gaunts (although not marked)! My example is at least 34 years old.. so not of recent manufacture! It stays in the collection, probably made for TA or Cadet use, whether ever worn remains to be discovered!

Andy

Andy,
I have a similar example to yours and had it for more than 25 years if memory serves. I wonder if they were made for Royal Warwickshire Regiment Old Comrades who did not want to wear Fusilier Brigade/RRF badges?
I sold a R WARF shoulder title last year and was told by someone who served when the R WARWICKS joined the Fusilier Brigade in 1963 through to the RRF days that "he had never seen the R WARF title worn". However, I also have a well worn and damaged example which someone may have worn (Roy Wood?). So back to a TA or ACF connection?

I'd add to the East Surreys in a/a as a 'non' badge.

The attached, which is hopefully legible, is from Walter Lamberts article on anodised badges in Crown Imperial No 75 of Summer 1994.

Walter lists R.Warwick R. in s/g as K and K 594 but adds a "+" to as he says " ..... indicates those which I do not belive are genuine issues- i.e. they were produced for collectors.not for use.I should of course be happy to hear from collectors who can correct ne if I am wrong, since it is possible that some were worn my T.A. battalions"

I am l of the opinion as has already been suggested that a lot more reasearch is required not only in repect of badges worn by T.A. battalions but also by cadets.

P.B.