[grenadierguardsman]

Originally Posted by Toby Purcell

Anything is possible without the concrete evidence that we are missing, Andy, but by considering previous practice and certain fairly inviolate principles we can apply some intelligent likelihood’s. The badge seems to have been in existence a relatively short time, and bears only a Victorian cypher, as I have not seen one for Edward VII yet? We also have to consider the size and style of the badge and what headdress that suggests.

We know that the officers and sergeants of battalion staff grade wore the peaked round forage cap between 1881 and 1900, on which bullion or precious metal and enamel badges on a black band (less Scots) were worn by officers, but seemingly superior metals above a gold lace (bias and stand pattern) band by the battalion sergeant major and battalion staff SNCOs. It was not normal for the sergeant major alone to wear a superior badge, and traditionally all those dressed in ‘First Class’ uniform wore the same style of badge. I feel that this consistent tradition rules the sergeant major out as a potential wearer.

Conversely, there was only one quartermaster with no group of fellows, who held only honorary (rather than substantive) rank, and who we know was not afforded the same privileges at that time as the rest of the officers. He was not even a ‘dining member’ unless specifically invited by the PMC. It has been lamented in the past that he was ‘neither fish, nor fowl’ because of his unique position between the most senior other ranks and the officers with full commissions. This scenario makes him a strong contender for the badge, as he would without question have worn the officers pattern cap with its distinctive ribbed black band (as opposed to the gold lace band of SM and SNCO Staff), and perhaps wore the superior metal badge as a mark of his unique and solitary status. A kind of compromise, halfway house, as it were.

Bronze badges did not come into existence until 1904, when they were specifically decreed for the new, serge service dress (SD) that had been introduced in 1902. For some reason the Foot Guards opted not to wear them and to instead wear their coloured forage caps and associated badges.

A follow on question must be what did the Coldstream and Scots Guards quartermasters wear, and if different why?

Yes i was going to mention the Coldstream Guards and Scots Guards come to think of that the Irish Guards and Welsh Guards also.
Andy