1954 dated Royal Marine Beret Info sort
 

Hi team

Looking for more info on this dated RM Beret as berets are not my field , however I want to add more interest to my collection and have come to appreciate 1950's-70's era to add.

After all the term cold war now turns to historic era is now looking at 50-70 years ago! Geepers I was born in 64 sshhh.

Was it common practise for a KC to be used until replaced by a QC and if so would you know a time frame for replacement?

How would you tell if the KC was WWII made or post WWII 1946-1953, I'm assuming they would of used left over stock from the war.

There is a verticle leather band with a small stitched opening, would that be for use of a QC slider RM badge? Or generally for the then new sliders coming into to service?

Next to the inside leather there is a marking W M 390, I can makeout 3 with black lite,what does that stand for as they have WD 1954 stamped.

The double diamond is stitched and another elaborate style of stitching around the leather band. When did they stop using double stitching.

I did check the WWII Berets by Steve but gleaned some info.

Team Ive just noticed the badge doesnt have the named continents on the badge-would that mean anything?

Much appreciated for the help team.

Phill

Somewhere on the forum is a thread containing a very informative post concerning the dates of wear King's Crown / Queen's Crown bcap badges, helmet plates etc.
I think it was by the son of a RM who served through the relevant period.
I'll try to find it.

Hi Phill, as far as I'm aware the simple answer is: you can't. Unless it is a very specific design (plastic economy or hallmarked silver).

The vertical leather band is often referred to as a slider pocket; these came into use around 1952 and can also be found in cloth.

Wartime berets show a single handstitched thread around the inside to secure a strip of hessian during production. That was replaced by the machine stiched thread that is shown on your beret around the mid-fifties.

Thanks for the input guys.

Appeciate the detailed reply Luc.

I dont know much about Berets but I do like the dated ones and this is a Royal Marine Commando.

cheers

Phill

The RM adopted the ‘admiralty pattern’ beret in 1944. They have a distinctive half moon stiffening patch sewn into the lining behind the cap badge, and not a slider pocket. You see RM kit with army issue berets upto the end of the war but I’ve never seen as late as 1954. I think yours is an army pattern green beret that has a RM cap badge added.

Thanks 1664

Very interesting note, but does that have a bearing on authenticty or is it just a case of RM individual buying a then new green beret from a surplus store and afixing their RM badge? I dont know the logistics or supply channels on how or why this would happened.

If others can chime in for more comments, would be appreciated.

cheers

Phill