In my opinion the sealed pattern card badge is similar if not identical to the Gaunt pattern badge. It is nothing like the other ranks voided crown pattern that some collectors believe was the first pattern badge worn.
All the WW2 era Parachute Regiment Officers badges that I own and have seen are typically voided crown whether hallmarked or not and were made by Gaunt, Firmin and Ludlow, each with their distinctive patterns. I have not seen an other ranks Gaunt badge with a voided crown.
I agree that it would be nice to have hard evidence of the timeline of these badges, it just seems logical that the Gaunt other ranks badge would have been produced around the time of the first date letter S officers badge being of the same pattern but with a non voided crown.
The Gaunt officers badge is the only one that I am aware of that provides evidence in the form of a hallmark that the new badge was produced in 1943. I have not seen a Firmin hallmarked Parachute Regiment badge and would welcome any evidence of their existence as they did produce a hallmarked AAC badge as did Gaunt. I am not aware that Ludlow hallmarked their badges apart from a STERLING mark, again any evidence to the contrary would be welcome.
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