The first of these is one of an unofficial type of post-war title whose story is told in this extract from my book. Despite the comment in Soldier such titles were never an official issue.
The second example looks like a No2 Dress or Mess Dress title and may be more official.
Jon
On several occasions in the post-war years soldiers from the Channel Islands, where the National Service Act did not apply, sought permission to wear an arm title indicating that they were volunteers. In June 1955 Southern Command sent the War Office Dress Committee a request from the Greenjackets Depot asking that recruits from the Channel Islands enlisting as Greenjackets Regulars be permitted a ‘Jersey’ or ‘Guernsey’ title below the regimental title on battle dress. Although the Director of Infantry thought such badges would encourage the Greenjackets’ good recruiting connection with the Islands, the Committee, fearing ‘acceptance of this principle would lead to similar nationalist requests’, would not permit them.
This longstanding bone of contention was reflected in Soldier’s letters column. In June 1952 Private Allen of No 11 Training Battalion, REME, having seen a soldier wearing ‘Jersey’ asked if flashes showing a soldier’s country of origin could be worn. If so could he wear one as he came from Eire? Soldier replied that ‘Flashes showing the country of origin are no longer allowed’. Six years later in August 1958 a soldier signing himself ‘Flash-less’- a volunteer who was born and joined up in Guernsey - told Soldier he put a ‘Guernsey’ flash on his uniform but was told to take it down. ‘The flash may have ceased to be a quartermaster’s issue’ he wrote ‘but it is still possible to buy it from any shop’.
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29-01-20, 11:30 AM
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