Despatch Rider Arm Band or Formation Sign?
 

Hi Gents,

I picked up this really nice image recently. It shows a splendid group of Royal Engineer Despatch Riders.

A couple of points of interest: Firstly there is a sign at the bottom which if I'm reading it right says DR (despatch riders) 1917 and BEF (British Expeditionary Force). Any comments very much welcome.

Also and from an insignia perspective, I noted a number of the chaps wearing a pair of the blue/white armbands denoting Despatch Rider. But also a few of them appear to be wearing a patch somewhat similar to a formation sign of the same design.

I'm wondering if this was just an armband cut up/sewn on, possibly due to shortage. Or something else?

Cheerio,

Roy

Wearing a Sam Browne, I reckon its a warrant officers badge of some sort.

Here's some more pics of the patch I'm talking about.

Cheerio,

Roy

He also appears to be wearing jodhpurs and long leather boots, almost certainly a ‘senior’.

Roy,

My money is on a cut down DR armband.

Regards

Mark

Thanks Mark,

The more I looked at it the more I wondered that. Perhaps they needed more armbands than they had to go around, so cutting one up to make four pieces that could be sewed on would do the job.

Never seen it before, so thought it worth sharing.

Cheerio,

Roy

Isn't the Blue & White arm band worn by the Signal Service of the Royal Engineers ??

Very interesting image, I thought that the armband was worn by other Signallers too, I also thought it was a "duty" armband to give those wearing it priority in traffic and at check points, so its odd that a non removable version could exist, unless perhaps this image predates some of these regulations?

Rob

2 Images for Roy.

The single image is of 72715 Sgt. J. Batchelor M.M. [2nd Signal Coy. R. Engineers]. Sgt. Batchelor must have been a bit of a naughty boy, as when I purchased his medals some time ago, there were a great many photos which he probably took with his [forbidden]VPK. Being a DR he probably had more opportunity to use it covertly.

Interestingly, insignia wise, in one photo he seems to have the full armband, in the other it appears to be the square as previously commented.


I apologise for the poor quality of the scans, but please bear in mind these have been 'blown up' from tiny original photographs. Hope someone finds them of interest though.

T

Double post.

Thanks for sharing these.

Great images and seems to prove that cut down armbands were sometimes used.

I guess it was needs must in theatre.

Cheers,

Roy