Some official paperwork that helps explain some of the mystery.
NFS Instruction 31 dated 11th October 1941 refers to 'the helmet badge design [which] corresponds as closely as possible to the [metal] cap badge' and states that 'initial supplies are being sent to all Fire Force HQs'.
However NFS Instruction 37 of 20th April 1942 states 'NFS transfer badges for steel helmets...are available and will be issued to Fire Force commanders in the course of the next 3-4 weeks...'.
This would appear to suggest that whilst there may have been an initial supply of the transfer cap badge, the main supply did not arrive until over six months later.
There may well be a dated NFS instruction on the application of Fire Force numbers but if so I don't have a copy.
Jon
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