There is indeed a problem around these badges and I'll share what I've found out so far - which I've discussed with a few other members already.
As Chris has pointed out, the AA cap badge was listed in the LoC in November 1951 but as a declaration of intent ! It was given the stock number CB 3083.
This item is indeed listed in the 1953 and 1959 editions of the CCN but crucially without a price - meaning that it did not yet exist. It was certainly therefore never worn by the regular King's Regiment (Liverpool). In fact an LoC emtry for May 1958 specifically states that 3083 was now restricted for use by 5th Bn and LU OTC only – again, obviously for reference to when it would be available !.
The first time it appeared in the CCN with a price was in 1963 and it must therefore have been available by then. But I cannot find any official reference to it's introduction or to any Sealed Pattern number !
As Peter has pointed out, it was worn by the 5th TA Bn, presumably from 1963 to 1967. The 5th Bn TA ceased to exist in that form in 1967 and from then on the King's badge was only worn by LU OTC.
This badge must have been the seeded variety - I'm only aware of examples by Gaunt and by Firmin. Chris has found references to unseeded badges (for another unit) being proposed in 1964 but only for production - involving a new Pattern - when existing stocks run out.
It seem to me that the 1971 Pattern was Sealed - and produced - for the OTC as they had run out of the earlier stocks.
So, why was it sealed for a unit that had ceased to exist 13 years before ???
A clue might lie in an annotation I found on the SP card of the King's Pattern 14312/1950 King's bi-metal badge (incidentally Sealed for the cap - and "other headwear") in the NAM. Curiously there is no note of obsolescence – as there often is on other official SP cards – but an note saying that this (BM one) was superseded by Pattern 20302/1971 – i.e. this AA unseeded badge.
(There is certainly some confusion in the CCN listings in editions of the 1970s – too complicated to go into now – that may also be a result.)
Without, or until I find more, evidence from the early 1960s – I can only suggest that it was a bureaucratic muddle !
If anyone has any information or suggestions, I’d be very grateful to know..
As for collar badges, the WO (to become the MoD in 1964) appears to have moved only very slowly ! A memo from June 1962 says that they still have 900 pairs of King’s Regt collar badges but they will sell them to the 5th Bn (as they were funded separately !).
In 1964 a new AA Kings collar badge4 was sealed for the 5th Bn.
So, Peter’s photograph comes from a fairly tight time span.
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