Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry

[GriffMJ]

"A" Squadron (RWY) Royal Yeomanry wore a blue beret with a scarlet tombstone badge backing (if my memory serves me well)

"B" Squadron (RWY) Wessex Yeomanry wore the beret of the Royal Hussars with a black badge backing. I think this started in the late 1980s during the command of an RH Colonel.

[REME245]

A Squadron certainly correct when I joined in about 1991.

A Green Cravat if the correct phraseology was also used for some years prior to me joining.

[Car_Commander]

Griff,

I don't recall ever seeing B Squadron with a black badge backing. I am fairly certain that they wore a scarlet tombstone, the same as we did in A Squadron.

Les.

A (RWY) Squadron, RY 1991 - 2002

[GriffMJ]

It was a looooong time ago Les Memory has faded....

This is how I remember it..... but there is a scarlet cloth backing to the badge...... on the black square...... on the cow pat.

[Cleeman]

Hi,
I am totally confused about the lineage of the Wilts Yeomanry cap badges. Can someone please confirm what badges are from what era. I have read up on their history and change of service in WW1 (Cyclists & Infantry) but cannot fathom out what badges were worn when.

K&K has 1303 as Imperial Yeomanry but officers felt-hat badge only. Yet on the forum, examples of OR's and Slouch Hat badges appear to exist.

K&K 1407 is the version I have in my collection but apparently a bronze version exists as well (not OSD). K&K Vol.2 shows this as 2283, sealed 1916 and the way it reads was in use until 1948. I thought the Bimetal one was in use in WW2. When was this worn, it is not even mentioned in Gaylor or Wilkinsons?

Should K&K 1407 Bimetal badge be on lugs or a slider, or is it available on both?

Thank you for any advice or help on this matter.

[GriffMJ]

Cleeman

The Wilts Yeomanry wore a white metal POWFs in the Other Ranks. During the Great War they started with brass then wore a Bronzed Brass POWFs in the latter stages (WD Tenders for DHY & PWORWY on the same list). Post War it was back to the white metal. It was not until the 1950s that they started to wear the Bi-Metal.

In the 2nd Boer War the standard IY rosette was worn in RWY sponsored companies..... the Officers may have worn just the white metal or silver POWFs in their caps. The Wilts Yeo had a zig zag type pattern around their Pith Helmets I seem to remember.... not unlike the Scots Greys.

I have attached a pic of SSM Stanley J Cope. PWORWY, on getting married in July 1918. You can clearly see he is wearing a bronzed brass cap badge.

I have attached a Trooper from the early Great War period with probably a brass POWFs in his cap.

I have attached some pre 1914 uniform so you can see the white metal badge.... same in the cap & collar.

[Cleeman]

GriffMJ

Wow, thank you for such a fast and informative reply. The pics are an excellent reference as well. Now I know what to look out for.

Thanks again
Andy

[GriffMJ]

Andy

Here is a pre 1950 Officers FFSCap..... with a silver POWFs (By William Dowler & Sons).

[lettman]

Hi Griff,
It's obvious from the evidence and your own expertise on the subject that an all WM OR's badge was worn at certain stages in the Wilts Yeomanry history, but I'm genuinely curious as to why none of the standard sources (K&K included) so much as mention such an OR's badge for the unit. Any suggestions?

[Alan O]

The SSM is wearing officers pattern uniform with sam browne belt and officers gloves with the bronze cap badge.

There is some considerable variance in badge design and finish over the years, The WW1 photo shows a small bronze badge which if it was not for the attribution you might confuse with the DY or 15th Londons.

The regt wore the standard PofW feathers in their coloured 'blue patrols' caps and jackets and in khaki.

The officers wore the distinctively shaped PofW feathers that was later taken into use for the Post WW2 ORs' anodised aluminium badges. The regtl history has photos of these in use pre WW1.

This is an interesting photo: It is incorrectly dated to WW2 as the uniform is inter war but is clearly Wilts Yeomanry at TF summer camp. The style of feathers mirrors the officers pattern and is the earliest photo I have seen of this style in use by an OR. It has a strong resemblance to the 1908 Cheshire Yeomanry badge with a brass scroll.

[GriffMJ]

White metal ORs.. small collar.... post great war.

* Jim Willoughby apprx. 1939-1945 in his pre WW2 Wiltshire Yeomanry uniform, Army No.545549. Having become experienced with horses in WW1, Photo taken at Minehead, Somerset.

** I have attached the white metal cap badge they are wearing.
.

[GriffMJ]

ORs Blues with Dowler Wm Collars... Edwardian probably. With a group photo from the same period.

[GriffMJ]

Officers Blues date 1955..... also showing the post 1950 Officer set (Greenwood Collection).

[GriffMJ]

Cold War Officers SD jacket... plus Cap & collar and other bits. Also showing a Subalterns Dress cap and an ORs BiM. cap badge and the ORs AA.

* Also showing the later ORs BiM slider with the "J.R.GAUNT LONDON LTD" mark.

[GriffMJ]

Pre 1950s Officers cap badge...... probably for the FFS Cap.