Anodised Aluminium Cap Badge Oddities

[hagwalther]

The gold anodised back badge does exist with (I believe) integral lugs with sharpened edges which will break off after a few uses.

Regards

Chris

[Toby Purcell]

It's worth remembering that pre-aa badges, when the Glosters wore a w/m badge the back badge was g/m. It may well be that when aa badges were first introduced in the early 50s(?) the back badge was g/m in aa. What for example did the Glosters street lining party wear at the coronation in 1953? Each Regt provided a party.

[hagwalther]

Hi Guys,

Last week we had some really good input about the Royal Alderney Militia and Royal Alderney Militia ACF badges and would like to pick all of your brains again with the last four from my oddities list being:

1) University Of London OTC (All Silver)
2) Tayforth Universities UOTC (All Silver)
3) Royal Army Medical Corp (Gold snake)
4) Wessex Regiment/Wessex Brigade (All Silver)

The Silver Wessex item may already have been covered but I think the rest are all factory mistakes.

Opinions please.

Regards

Chris

[Mike H]

Chris,
1) Never come across one
2) The all silver version that ive seen is the same as the example that is shown in K&K non voided with fleur-de-lys in the non voided sections.
3) Manufacturing error
4) Manufacturing error ,related military websites state that the staybrite badge was gold.I know there information could be wrong.Personal opinion on 4) is an error.

[bess55]

Originally Posted by hagwalther

The gold anodised back badge does exist with (I believe) integral lugs with sharpened edges which will break off after a few uses.

Regards

Chris

Chris,
The gold AA back badges I have are the same as the silver types (i.e just wth the small lugs) I've not seen the type with blades in A A (the new types in gold metal, yes) but I do have some that are clearly very late in manufacture. I do believe Mike H could well be right with his theory regarding the RRG&H Regt, however Toby has a point too. The original Glosters back badge was gold in brass.

Regards all

Bess

[bess55]

[QUOTE=hagwalther;21576]Hi Guys,

Last week we had some really good input about the Royal Alderney Militia and Royal Alderney Militia ACF badges and would like to pick all of your brains again with the last four from my oddities list being:

1) University Of London OTC (All Silver)
2) Tayforth Universities UOTC (All Silver)
3) Royal Army Medical Corp (Gold snake)
4) Wessex Regiment/Wessex Brigade (All Silver)

The Silver Wessex item may already have been covered but I think the rest are all factory mistakes.


Opinions please.

Chris,
I dont unfortunately have a date, but there was a clear change in the colour of the snake for RAMC badges in AA. I'm not sure which came first silver or gold. Both versions are common and frequently seen on the market along with the matching collar badges too, silver or gold snake versions.

I have this badge in all gold (got to be an error) and in all silver (error too I'm sure) however this badge came with a worn cherry red felt backing which is correct and has clearly been worn! Any thoughts anyone?

Bess

[hagwalther]

Originally Posted by bess55

Chris,
The gold AA back badges I have are the same as the silver types (i.e just wth the small lugs) I've not seen the type with blades in A A (the new types in gold metal, yes) but I do have some that are clearly very late in manufacture. I do believe Mike H could well be right with his theory regarding the RRG&H Regt, however Toby has a point too. The original Glosters back badge was gold in brass.

Regards all

Bess

Hi Sean,

I was going to scan this but I've mislaid it somewhere - must be in the wrong box. I do have a gold and silver with lugs though.

Regards

Chris

[hagwalther]

Originally Posted by bess55

Chris,
I dont unfortunately have a date, but there was a clear change in the colour of the snake for RAMC badges in AA. I'm not sure which came first silver or gold. Both versions are common and frequently seen on the market along with the matching collar badges too, silver or gold snake versions.

I have this badge in all gold (got to be an error) and in all silver (error too I'm sure) however this badge came with a worn cherry red felt backing which is correct and has clearly been worn! Any thoughts anyone?

Bess

Hi Bess,

I would be interested in that date if you could find it and also more infor on the silver one. The cherry backing (what is this all about) could have been added later.

Regards

Chris

[hagwalther]

Originally Posted by Mike H

Chris,
1) Never come across one
2) The all silver version that ive seen is the same as the example that is shown in K&K non voided with fleur-de-lys in the non voided sections.
3) Manufacturing error
4) Manufacturing error ,related military websites state that the staybrite badge was gold.I know there information could be wrong.Personal opinion on 4) is an error.

Mike, as I understand things the Tayford Universities UOTC is identical to the OTC but with the scroll saying 'UOTC' instead of 'OTC'.

Again, I think this is a 'no show' item.

Regards

Chris

[bess55]

Originally Posted by hagwalther

Hi Bess,

I would be interested in that date if you could find it and also more infor on the silver one. The cherry backing (what is this all about) could have been added later.

Regards

Chris

Chris,
The 'cherry red' badge backing for the RAMC is the correct recognised cap badge backing for this regiment.

And the cap badge backing subject is a whole differant ball game entirely!

Regards

Bess

[bess55]

Originally Posted by bess55

Chris,
The 'cherry red' badge backing for the RAMC is the correct recognised cap badge backing for this regiment.

And the cap badge backing subject is a whole differant ball game entirely!

Regards

Bess

Re the RAMC AA badge with gold snake. 'Regimental Badges by Major T J Edwards (6th edition dated 1974) quotes the then current RAMC other ranks cap badge (which would have been AA ) as 'As officers but only scroll in white metal, remainder in gilding metal'.. . . . 'cloth backing to beret badge: dull cherry'.

So gold snake first, at least until 1974 and silver snake later to present, with matching collar for both types.

Regards all

Bess

[hagwalther]

Originally Posted by bess55

Re the RAMC AA badge with gold snake. 'Regimental Badges by Major T J Edwards (6th edition dated 1974) quotes the then current RAMC other ranks cap badge (which would have been AA ) as 'As officers but only scroll in white metal, remainder in gilding metal'.. . . . 'cloth backing to beret badge: dull cherry'.

So gold snake first, at least until 1974 and silver snake later to present, with matching collar for both types.

Regards all

Bess

Thanks Bess,

Looks like one to properly account for.

Regards

Chris