There is a wealth of information at TNA (The National Achives) - here are some of my notes
enjoy
TNA, WO359 page 78 ACD/S. Lancs/437 dated 12/8/1902. Titled “Badges Helmets in India method of Fixing”
“I am directed by the secretary of state for war to inform you that new badges as fixed in India by a long shank as on pattn, enclosed have been approved for wear at colonial stations upon the Indian pattern helmet and the service dress hat.
At home, the Field [Service] Cap (=side cap) was replaced in 1902 by a new cap, known as the ‘Brodrick’ RACD 9. This was a peakless cap much disliked by the army and finally given up in 1906 and replaced by the peaked Forage Cap
Note in RACD 11, 203 of a meeting 5th March 1903 regarding sliders for HPC for FSH and Univ Hddress and ‘For NP Forage Caps’ (the Brodrick cap)
‘That existing Fd Cap badges shall be used and to be fitted with a vertical shank
There was clearly little delay in implementation and it can be seen that the loops on the SP card (Fig xx) were replaced by a vertical shank on 23.03.1903. Examples would then be forwarded to manufacturers. Indeed, an order by the WO noted on 04.06.1903 that ‘The shanks of the patterns of these badges have been altered.’.
The RACD records ( TNA WO 359/13, 169; 359/14, 80) date this order from 28.03.1906 and a note on the SP states ‘shank reduced xxx’ dated the same day (xx).
‘NP’ = New Pattern, which clearly means that the OP (Old Pattern) was now obsolete
BTW the ‘Universal Headdress’ or ‘service dress hat’ (also known as ‘felt hat’ in DR)
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