Bess,
Yes, there was an entire batch ( large one) of distorted badges and I never understood why they were accepted (I don't think they were checked), but I was so 'outraged' that as a lowly Cpl I went to see the QM, who was quite amused. Partly as a result, the CO authorised the PRI to purchase bi/m badges with sliders by Gaunt for soldiers to buy. These were nice badges but unusual in that they were lacquered and the nickel circlet was secured to the grenade not by brazing (too time consuming) but by the simple edifice of 2 pins protruding through 2 holes and then bent over. This was insecure and not soldier proof and many of us hand soldered them in the REME Wksp. This was about 1978-79.
The grenade part of the a/a badges that were distorted must have been produced in large numbers, as they were later used to make up TV 'prop' badges for both, early editions of Soldier Soldier, and an episode of Midsomer Murders involving a notional TA unit!
Last edited by Toby Purcell; 02-11-10 at 01:44 AM.
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