CEF Book Project- 1st Bn
 

1st Bn has 3 design variants:
ONT/1/CANADA, WESTERN/1/ONTARIO, WESTERN/1/ONT
plus Interim Badge 1/CANADA

ONT/1/CANADA has 3 reported Maker Variants for OR's. No reported Offr Badge
OR Badge: Hicks, Gaunt, Tiptaft

WESTERN/1/ONTARIO has one reported Maker Variant for OR and Offr
OR and Offr Badge: Tiptaft

WESTERN/1/ONT Maker is Unknown for OR badge, No reported Offr badge

Requested Images:
ONT/1/CANADA OR Badge Gaunt and Tiptaft.

WESTERN/1/ONTARIO OR Badge Tiptaft
Information on an Offr Badge

WESTERN/1/ONT
Information on Offr Badge

Please ONLY badges that are Maker stamped

Thanks

WESTERN/1/ONTARIO Badge Tiptaft - Officer?
 

Hi All,

Attached is what I think is an officer’s badge WESTERN/1/ONTARIO by Tiptaft (marked) as requested by Larry. It is on an officer’s cap, pretty sure its original to the cap. It looks almost identical to the OR though the overlay appears to be silver and the gilt maybe slightly better quality.

Interested in members comments for potential inclusion in the CEF book.

Cheers, Ian.

Hopefully the page will be of sufficiently good quality to be of use.
This is the 1st Bn as it stands today. If you can provide images of a badge not shown here please forward to Larry. This can be a cap, collar, shoulder badge, a cloth unit title, formation patch or a sweetheart pin - not to forget a button.
Cheers,
Clive

http://www.servicepub.com/images/1bn.jpg

Hello,

I think it would be very useful to include the types of fittings on the badges as well as the other information you have already included.

Canadian badges do seem to have an array of different rear fittings, such as loops; 3 long blades; 2 pairs of blades; pin & catch; slider (british manufacture).

regards

Ian:
Interesting!!
I have the same badge and last night I had a real good look at it and came to almost the same conclusion. Officers – Tiptaft! But!!!

Subdued Gilt, Flat back, Maker Mark Tiptaft B’Ham (center upper rear), Lugs E-W, Lugs Half round wire-splayed feet.
It is the front that makes me wonder? The “T” in Ontario looks like it is plated as there is a spot that is “chipped” and it seems to be another color of metal under the silver???

So ? Is there a OR’s badge that looks “Gilted”, somewhat a subdued Gilt, with a white metal plated center device????
That would make two (2) finish varieties for the OR badge – Browning Brass and Subdued Gilt??????

Or

The center (front) device is “PLATED” and it is the badge finish that makes it Offr or OR. Browning = OR, Gilt (or subdued gilt)=Offr

I am leaning towards it being Offr, mainly because of the construction, a solid heavy, flat back, design details (leaf veins) on the back. Hopefully someone out there has the OR's Browning Brass badge and we can compare construction details.

Food for thought

Clive, The battle patch in the 1st Bn page is for the 5th Bn, 2nd Bde 1 Division. It should be a green circle over the red division patch. (ref, Nicholson, Canadian Expeditionary Force 1914-1919, and Law, Distinguishing Patches.)

1st Bn Battle Patch
 

Hi Larry, Here is an image for the battle patch worn by the 1st Battalion CEF.

The 1914 authorized issue cloth shoulder title for the 1st Battalion.

Of all people, I should know better. I will refer to your citations above for guidance. :)
C

Better still, a pic of the reverse.

Rgds, Thomas.

Fastening devices will be covered, probably in a general overview. It may be set up in a manner that it can be cross referenced for all the badges.

Hi all, attached is what I've been told by a published author on Canadian badges to be an officers version of the 1st CEF badge. The reverse is marked HICKS AND SONS LONDON. I do not collect this regiment so I'm not so sure myself. You are welcome to the image for the book, with attribution:D

Greg

Hi Greg,
Thanks for the image. Can you send the original file to me directly as the images get 'dumbed-down' in resolution when posted. As to attribution, I can only acknowledge all contributors in a separate section and not on a pre badge basis. Is this OK with you?
Cheers,
Clive

Thanks fine with me Clive, expect some images shortly.

Greg

Hello Clive,
I am keen to help out with new book as Charlton has its short comings and mistakes, misinformation and just just rubbish stated as fact.
Just wondering how it will be decided which badge images will be used.
For example not to criticise anybody but the badge image Greg had shown is obvious been browned up I assume to cover damage done to the badge when the pin was added. It is not a brown finish badge as the gilt/brass finish can be seen showing through. The give away also is that the hicks disk has been browned over.
Another example springs to mind on theBuywyze website a hall marked silver 4th battalion is being offered as officers. It has been re lugged. I have only seen this badge with a sweetheart pin not original cap badge lugs. !! So IMO a sweetheart pin not an officer badge.
Dealers love to muddy the waters
Another example, a fellow collector asked my opinion of a 1st tank cap badge he had acquired as officers. It had a pair of tangs and a brown OSD finish to it. IMO it was obviously a standard pickled OR badge which had had tangs added to it and browned up to deceive and add value.
How will all this be sifted through?
Very keen to un muddy the waters.
Dan