1st Devon Rifle Volunteers

[Mike H]

Just arrived.

[54Bty]

Is that now yours?

Marc

[hagwalther]

Hi Guys,

This badge is covering in my book.

Here are some notes from page 548. There is also a larger write up about it in the chapter about Territorial Army cap badges:

1. In 1967 The Devonshire Territorials became The Devonshire Territorials (Royal Devon Yeomanry/1st Rifle Volunteers), RAC (TA).

2. At the 178th Meeting of the Army Dress Committee, held on 12th April 1967, the Committee decided to approve the Royal Armoured Corps cap badge for wear by The Devonshire Territorials (Royal Devon Yeomanry/1st Rifle Volunteers), RAC (TA) and all sub-units before replacement by their own design.

3. At the 179th Meeting of the Army Dress Committee, held on 31st May 1967, the Committee decided to approve the pencilled sketch design No. 0.2477 for the gold & silver A/A cap badge for all ranks of The Devonshire Territorials (Royal Devon Yeomanry/1st Rifle Volunteers), RAC (TA), subject to modification as required by the regiment.

4. At the 186th Meeting of the Army Dress Committee, held on 29th May 1968, approval was made for The Devonshire Territorials (Royal Devon Yeomanry/1st Rifle Volunteers), RAC (TA) and ‘D’ Squadron (Royal Devon Yeomanry/1st Rifle Volunteers) of The Royal Wessex Yeomanry (TA) to wear the cap badge of The Devonshire Territorials before development of the new cap badge for The Devonshire Territorials (Royal Devon Yeomanry/1st Rifle Volunteers), RAC (TA) had completed. At the same meeting the Committee inspected and approved, subject to unit approval, the finished samples of the cap badge for The Devonshire Territorials (Royal Devon Yeomanry/The 1st Rifle Volunteers): Badge, Cap, gold and silver A/A for soldiers. Sketch design No. 0.2477. It was noted that no further action was to be taken at that time.

5. See Chapter 17 - A Tangle of Territorials for a greater insight to this unit.


In effect, it is possibly one of the prototypes noted in item 4. above. None were ever batch manufactured for issue as further confirmed by the letter from the MoD to Gaunt (which is shown above in Mike's original post) stating that only six samples were made.

Question for Mike - Makers marking; can you confirm that the 'G' in GAUNT has a flat or rounded bottom and is there a full stop after LTD?

If Mike can confirm what I think I can see then I would say that the badge is a good example of one of the six prototypes.

Regards

Chris

[William]

Thanks for this good info, Chris. The badge seems to be not unknown, but of course it is very rare indeed.

Congratulations to Mike H on this new addition to your collection, as well as associated paperwork; I get the impression that this badge was cornered only after a determined effort by you. Well done mate!

I wonder where the remaining five badges are?

Best regards

William

[hagwalther]

Originally Posted by William

Thanks for this good info, Chris. The badge seems to be not unknown, but of course it is very rare indeed.

Congratulations to Mike H on this new addition to your collection, as well as associated paperwork; I get the impression that this badge was cornered only after a determined effort by you. Well done mate!

I wonder where the remaining five badges are?

Best regards

William

Hi William,

Possibly attached to Master and Standard pattern cards.

Regards

Chris

[Mike H]

Yes Marc it is mine.

The "G" appears to be flat bottomed but there is no full stop.

The source of the badge is beyond question,so I have no doubts about the provenance.

[gus-gemma]

Originally Posted by William

Thanks for this good info, Chris. The badge seems to be not unknown, but of course it is very rare indeed.

Congratulations to Mike H on this new addition to your collection, as well as associated paperwork; I get the impression that this badge was cornered only after a determined effort by you. Well done mate!

I wonder where the remaining five badges are?

Best regards

William

I had 1 sold it in my collection also know where there is another 1 in a collection Richard

[ukbrits]

Hi Gents,
Here's another only 4 more to find now?
Regards
Colin

[Beckford]

Originally Posted by hagwalther

4. At the 186th Meeting of the Army Dress Committee, held on 29th May 1968, approval was made for The Devonshire Territorials (Royal Devon Yeomanry/1st Rifle Volunteers), RAC (TA) and ‘D’ Squadron (Royal Devon Yeomanry/1st Rifle Volunteers) of The Royal Wessex Yeomanry (TA) to wear the cap badge of The Devonshire Territorials before development of the new cap badge for The Devonshire Territorials (Royal Devon Yeomanry/1st Rifle Volunteers), RAC (TA) had completed. At the same meeting the Committee inspected and approved, subject to unit approval, the finished samples of the cap badge for The Devonshire Territorials (Royal Devon Yeomanry/The 1st Rifle Volunteers): Badge, Cap, gold and silver A/A for soldiers. Sketch design No. 0.2477. It was noted that no further action was to be taken at that time.

Chris,
The Wessex Yeomanry was not formed until 1971, being raised from cadres of the R Wilts Yeo, R Glos Hussars and Devonshire Territorials (Royal Devon Yeomanry/1st Rifle Volunteers); it was only granted "Royal" status in 1979. Given this, could the ADC meeting of 29.5.68 have referenced D (RDY) Sqn, Wessex Yeo?

The 'Historical Journal of the Royal Wessex Yeomanry Historical' (published by the Regt in 1980 contains some interesting stuff on the Devonshire Territorials:
- the unit was reduced to cadre strength in 1969
- following the cadre's annual camp in 1969 (in the form of attachment to 3RTR at Tidworth), it was given "the honour of being allowed to wear the RTR black beret and cap badge".
- the '1st Rifle Volunteers' part of the title was dropped in 1973/4 [the Journal is not clear on exactly when], as 'E' Coy 1st Wessex Regt had assumed the secondary title "Rifle Volunteers" and "also their silver".
- "Up until the autumn of 1976 the Squadron had continued to wear the mailed fist cap badge of the RAC", when it was replaced by the RDY badge. [Presumably the RAC badge - and dark blue beret - had replaced the RTR badge and beret when the cadre became D Sqn WxY?]

Hope this is of interest!

Clive

[hagwalther]

Hi Clive,

I've been through a few bits of official doco I own on this subject for this era and have to admit that in this case I can not longer find any reference to:

‘D’ Squadron (Royal Devon Yeomanry/1st Rifle Volunteers) of The Royal Wessex Yeomanry (TA)

As such, I have to admit that this part of my text is in error although why I put it in currently remains a mystery to me!

Quick Edit: The Royal Devon Yeomanry now serves as ‘D’ Squadron (Royal Devon Yeomanry/1st Rifle Volunteers) of The Royal Wessex Yeomanry (TA). It did not when 186th Meeting of the Army Dress Committee was held.

The error seems to be a timing issue and is regretted.

Chris