Here is my theory regarding the beech brown tear drop badge backing worn on the beret by other ranks of the Women’s Royal Army Corps (WRAC) from the early 1950s to 1992.
At some point in the early years following the formation of the WRAC (1949) a green beret, unique to the WRAC, was issued with the badge backing already sewn on. The beech brown Melton cloth badge backing was itself backed with thick hessian and had a slider pocket sewn-in. This was because the unique WRAC issued beret was made either unlined and/or without a built in leather slider pocket. Officers of course would have purchased their berets and bullion badges from military tailors shops.
In early 1980 it was realised that the colour of the WRAC beret was “Rifle Green” and the same as the beret worn by the Light Infantry and the Royal Green Jackets which was then issued to the WRAC with the unique WRAC beret discontinued. The issued Rifle Green beret now required the beech brown badge backing hence its introduction with a Sealed Pattern in July 1980 (see post 3 above and example below).
Tim
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Last edited by grey_green_acorn; 21-05-20 at 07:03 PM.
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