Hi Guys,
The East Surrey in beret size with Tudor Crown was certainly authorised for issue but I have never heard of one.
LIST OF CHANGES In War Materiel and of Patterns of Military Stores which have been approved and sealed for LAND AND AIR SERVICE Volume LXII
List Of Changes dated 31st January 1952 - Change Numbers C 4818 to C 4855
Badges, Cap, Change Number C 4824
Unit Name
CB No.
Designation
Designation Notes
The East Surrey Regiment [Small]
A.A. CB 3087 G.M. CB 2450
The East Surrey Regt., Small
NEW PATTERN. A pattern (No. 14736) of the above-mentioned cap badge has been sealed to govern future manufacture for wear in the Beret and is here-by introduced. The new pattern differs from the old pattern (No. 4706) Cat. No. CB 0340 in that it is reduced in size. The later will continue to be worn in Forage and Service Dress Caps.
7th Dec., 1951-54/Vocab./153
27th Sept. 1951/Encl. 70 to 54/Officers/4025
I.C./C/1190
It was sealed on the 27th September 1951. However, the cards used were the older GM/WM examples with Tudor Crown updated to A/A use.
For the cap version in St. Edwards Crown:
Badges, Cap; Change Number C 8866
Unit Name
CB No.
Designation
Designation Notes
23rd London Regiment (East Surrey) (TA)
CB 8064
23 London
INTRODUCTION. A pattern (No. 17608) has been sealed to govern future manufacture and is hereby introduced. The badge is an eight pointed star in silver colour, surmounted by the St. Edward’s Crown and circle in gold colour. Within the circle, a lion Couchant guardant in front of a Castle the centre tower charged with an escutcheon of the Arms of Kingston-upon-Thames with scroll underneath.
2nd Oct., 1958-54/Vocab./1425
28th Jan., 1958-Encl. 47/16 to 54/Officers/4051
I.C.-C./1054 (D.I.S.C. 1731)
I show a St. Edwards Beret version on page 605 of my book as although I have yet to find evidence of it being officially authorised in St. Edwards Crown they most certainly do exist.
The example shown by Leigh looks to be the beret version with correct Gaunt slider and marking from the period. It is also a match for the entry in my book.
All this aside - the advertising card of the British Aluminium Company is spectacular and I wish I had one to display when I wrote my book.
Regards,
Chris
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