I am too confused. The 23rd London's is a TA unit so is a red herring as the badge was not the same as the East Surrey regt.
As the East Surrey regiment amalgamated in 1958 and the Surrey TA Bns had their own bespoke TA badges in a/a from 1961, it was not a design that was required to be produced in a/a in the mid 1960s when many of the pre-1958 designs were in use by the TA.
There would not have been a need to produce the a/a East Surrey badge after 1958 as no one was wearing it. Consequently I am not surprised they are so rare as their production may have been confirmed to sample badges as the Regulars may have been using up old brass badges up to 1958. As has been recorded elsewhere very few Regular battalions were wearing a/a before the creation of the brigade system.
Last edited by Alan O; 03-12-18 at 10:04 AM.
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