Quote:
Originally Posted by Quicksilver
Re the Specialist badges. I was advised by Dave Corbet who wrote the bible for NZ cap badges, and who I worked with at Air New Zealand, that the badges were worn on the troop ships but taken down at Sling Camp near Salisbury. The Signal Specialists were as far as I have found out only Regimental Signallers. Some may have found their way into the Divisional Signal Company but I am not aware of any. These specialist badges are also in bronze for type one and may be for other types. Some were made in gold for sweethearts. Unrelated but of interest to NZ badge collectors, I have a silvered collar for the NZP&T. The lady who gave it to me, who was ex signals her self from the NZCS in WW2, said her father was in the Postal Section in England and they wore the badges silvered. Has any one else heard of that?
Quicksilver
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Hi Cliff,
I have made mention to several keen people that I will do a post on the specialist badges worn by the Specialist Signal Section, and I should have done it as an earlier post, but I have been so busy for the last 5 months, when I do find the time and especially the inclination to write something, I tend to only write about what fascinates me the most. At this time of the year it is always about the Gallipoli heroes.
Cliff I somehow doubt that I can offer any new information regarding the Specialist Signal Section that you might not be aware of. But I am sure it will be new information to those who only have Corbett’s and Lowe’s badge books for reference.
I would like to point out that “Specialist” was strictly a distinction only used as NZ Reinforcements, once in England the distinction of the specialists title was no longer used.
In my opinion, the term Specialist was a recruitment tool. It certainly sounds better than the Suicide Club.
I too have heard of bonze first type specialists badge, I just haven’t seen one yet. Hopefully someone will post a picture one day.
The silvered collar for the NZP&T sounds interesting. I am assuming that it has lugs and is not broached?
While I cannot offer anything about the Postal Section in England, I can say I have seen silver NZP&T buttons. I think I may even have one, I will have a bit of a search and see if I can find it. Perhaps a connection???
Will post some badges of the Specialist Signal Section soon as I can.
Brent