WCP - British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum

royston · #1 06-12-20, 01:49 PM

This badge had been on requests for identification before, along with a few others, however, I am still intrigued to see if anyone knows the answer as to the meaning of this badge. A basic torpedoman's badge with added letters W (single letter) CP double letter.

John

mike_vee · #2 07-12-20, 10:51 AM

I remember when it was posted before , I did a bit of digging but couldn't find any info.

Tried various combinations :

W : Watchkeeper/Watchman , Weapons , Wireless.

CP :Control Post/Command Post , Cinque Ports.

Will keep hunting !

.

royston · #3 07-12-20, 07:34 PM

Hi Mike

I keep on thinking Warden Cinque Ports. Maybe he had his private navy. It reminds me of the torpedoes set up on shore ready to be launched against an enemy ship approaching. Was there such a setup along the channel Cinque Ports!!!

Was this a 1WW badge or 2WW. I have photographs of unusual badges or combination of badges in a small collection I keep to prove that they did exist in case I come across them. Such as RNAS Eagle with a star above, RNAS Eagle with a star below. RNAS Cap tally (Definately 1WW photograph)

Some photographs, such as a RNAS Despatch Rider or RNAS Armourer which back up badges in my but collection but were not really known about with certainty. Or a copy of a manufacturers page showing that two badges RNAS AAC and RNVR AAC were actually Mufti badges not shoulder badges. Or that the Bronze RND CPOs cap badge is listed as RNAS. Was it used by RNAS CPOs before the RND came in to being?

John

Alex Rice · #4 08-12-20, 06:49 AM

I would think the W might be for Wireman? The badge is for a torpedo wireman but the CP could be anything.

mike_vee · #5 08-12-20, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by royston

Hi Mike
I keep on thinking Warden Cinque Ports. Maybe he had his private navy. It reminds me of the torpedoes set up on shore ready to be launched against an enemy ship approaching. Was there such a setup along the channel Cinque Ports!!!

It appears to be an official Royal Navy badge and I would have thought that if a unit was specifically for the Cinque Ports they would simply have worn shoulder titles ?

Could the 'W' be a specialization within a branch ?

Letters indicating specialization within branches (but not qualifications).

"Torpedo and anti-submarine branch"
W Underwater Weapons
C Underwater Control
M Mine Defence
D Seaward Defence

Still no idea if 'CP' is part of a job/trade title or if it refers to a location , also why have letters on two lines ?

.

Alex Rice · #6 09-12-20, 06:58 AM

How about: "Wireman - Coastal Patrol"?

mike_vee · #7 09-12-20, 07:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex Rice

How about: "Wireman - Coastal Patrol"?

Was there actually a "Wireman" badge with a 'W' under the torpedo ?

.

Buttonman · #8 09-12-20, 01:50 PM

Badges and Insignia of the British Armed Forces gives only these letters being
used with this badge for wiremen:-

CM - Wireman [controlled mining].
CMS - Wireman [observation mining].
J - Wireman [cable jointing].
L - Wireman.
LC - Wireman [landing craft].
MS - Wireman [minesweeping].

David.

royston · #9 09-12-20, 05:23 PM

Many thanks. Lots of ideas. Being ex RN (33years) and being a collector of RN badges, this one still is intriguing, I assume now, looking at the references, that this is 2WW since the torpedo with letters underneath did not arrive 1940-42.

mike_vee · #10 09-12-20, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buttonman

Badges and Insignia of the British Armed Forces gives only these letters being
used with this badge for wiremen:-

CM - Wireman [controlled mining].
CMS - Wireman [observation mining].
J - Wireman [cable jointing].
L - Wireman.
LC - Wireman [landing craft].
MS - Wireman [minesweeping].

David.

To quote Alex's post from another thread :

" there are always exceptions to prove the rule..."

.

mike_vee · #11 09-12-20, 06:18 PM

Have just taken a closer look at the badge and wonder if there originally was something else under the torpedo ?

The area around the WCP looks as if it has had something else over it , there appears to be previous 'stitching' .

Buttonman · #12 09-12-20, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike_vee

Have just taken a closer look at the badge and wonder if there originally was something else under the torpedo ?

The area around the WCP looks as if it has had something else over it , there appears to be previous 'stitching' .

To me it looks like the WCP is stitched on.

mike_vee · #13 09-12-20, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buttonman

To me it looks like the WCP is stitched on.

Something just doesn't look right.

A rear view could be interesting .

.

nbroadarrowz · #14 09-12-20, 08:14 PM

full size badge of a crown over a torpedo.
Thanks
Barry

Alex Rice · #15 10-12-20, 06:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike_vee

Was there actually a "Wireman" badge with a 'W' under the torpedo ?

.

Hi Mike
No, there wasn't a documented 'W' letter used but the badge here looks like the lettering was sewn on manually. Perhaps some sailor was in a fairly unique jobs and decided to do an unique badge. Not unheard of.
Cheers,
Alex