Quote:
Originally Posted by nbroadarrowz
Sounds like a challenge that anyone can pick up, so here goes.
The Territorial badges of the 5th Wellington Regiment have been a source of confusion.
The first image is from a photo album at the Alexander Turnbull Library and shows the collar badges with scrolls attached being worn by a captain. (circa late 1880-1890's). (this badge being worn in this period had not been recorded until now).
When the Territorial system was introduced in December 1909 and new badge designs were looked at across all regiments some had new badges designed while others used the badges all ready in use. This is the case with the collar badges of the 5th (Wellington) Regiment which were approved on 10th July 1911 (archives NZ file). This noted
5th (Wellington) Regiment Badges in use approved.
Collar.- Duke of Wellington's Crest i.e. lion bearing pennant over coronet. Motto on scroll at base "Virtutis Fortuna Comes".
Cap.- Duke of Wellington's crest - larger than collar badge and omitting motto.
What this official approval indicates is that the collars did in fact have a scroll and that the cap and collars were of a different pattern and that the 5th Wellington Regiment wore badges that were already in use.
The questions now are
1/ Where do the plain collars (without a scroll) fit in?
2/ Were there sufficient scrolled collars left over from the Volunteer period to fill the need of the TF?
3/ Did more scrolled collars get made pre-war for the Territorials and by whom?
4/ Are there any photos of this combination of badges?
5/ Was this combination of plain cap and scrolled collars worn until the 1920's when the cap badge with a scroll was introduced?
Something to think about.
Barry
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Hi Barry, going by a few period photos in my collection, between 1911 to 1923, scrolled 5th Wellington badges appear only to be worn by officers, and badges without scrolls are worn by ordinary ranks and officers.
I have no pre-1923 pictures of 5th Wellington officers wearing a "combination of plain cap and scrolled collars," I do have a scrolled cap and scrolled collar combination being worn in 1914 somewhere in my files.
Brent