Berkshire Yeomanry Cap Badge

[RMR]

The uniform is a standard pattern battle dress with B.Y. slip on shoulder titles blue and maroon artillery strips and Sgt stripes,should anyone want to see pics let me know and i'll post them.regards Roger

[54Bty]

Originally Posted by RMR

The uniform is a standard pattern battle dress with B.Y. slip on shoulder titles blue and maroon artillery strips and Sgt stripes,should anyone want to see pics let me know and i'll post them.regards Roger

The Arm of Service Strips should be red and blue with red to the front, if they are what you say then the colours have run.

[Alan O]

According to the regtl museum the Berks Yeo had converted to RA badges post WW1 and readopted the Horse badge circa 1944.

Alan

[RMR]

Hi you are quite correct about the colour it is red and the red is to the fore,the sidecap has a W /|\ D with a P over and 15 under and has only ever had the RA grenade badge on it,I am not sure what date the P stands for but think it is either 42 or 43.the BD is dated 1943 Dunlop Rubber Co.regards Roger

[matti467]

Hello guys,
One that has been puzzling me for years, I have a brass BY, OSD, gilt IY and gilt cap badge. Was there ever a bi-metal version of this badge. If there was it certrainly is a rare beastie. If anyone has a photo of one I would be grateful. The reason I ask is that Rawlings mentions it in his book and gives a price. There is also an allusion to it in Men-at Arms series 245 British Territorial Units 1914-18, page 25.
Yours
Matti

[4966Ian]

Hi Matti,

I don't have a picture to hand I am afraid, but below are detailed the various variations of the Berkshire Imperial Yeomanry and Berkshire Yeomanry badges I have seen. If nobody posts a picture in the mean time I will have a go at the weekend.


Berkshire Imperial Yeomanry : 1899 to 1908

The White Horse of Berkshire with a scroll below inscribed “Berkshire” & below this the letters “IY”. Pattern approved 23rd August 1902 in Brass. (KK 1340).

OFFICERS - Slouch-Hat and Forage-Cap Badges
(1) As KK1340 but in hall-marked silver. (KK)
(2) As KK1340 but in silver or silver plate Not Hall-Marked.
(3) As KK1340 but in gilt. (KK)
(4) As KK1340 but in cast gilt. (KK)
(5) As KK1340 but horse & letters “IY” in silver, whilst “Berkshire” scroll in gilt.
(6) As KK1340 but in OSD/bronze (2 horizontal lugs). (* Collar? *)
(7) As KK1340 but in OSD, with horizontal blades.

OTHER RANKS - Slouch-Hat and Forage-Cap Badges
(8) As KK1340 but in brass/gilding-metal. (KK)
(9) As KK1340 but in white-metal. (KK)
(10) As KK1340 but Horse and letters “IY” in white metal whilst scroll inscribed “Berkshire” in gilding-metal.


Berkshire Yeomanry : 1908 to date
The White Horse of Berkshire with a scroll below inscribed “Berkshire”. (KK 1449).

OFFICERS - Forage Cap
(11) As KK1449 but in Hall Marked Silver.
(12) As KK1449 but in Silver-Plate.
(13) As KK1449 but in cast silver – Lugs
(14) As KK1449 but in cast silver - Blades
(15) As KK1449 but in Gilt.
(16) As KK1449 but in OSD/Bronze. (KK) (Blades)
(17) As KK1449 but in Bronze. (KK) (Lugged) (* Collar * ?)
(18) As KK1449 in blackened Brass (2xHorizontal loops)
(19) As KK1449 but in Silver & Gilt.

OTHER RANKS - Forage Cap
(20) As KK1449 but the Horse in White-metal, the scroll in gilding-metal. (KK)
(21) As KK1449 but all in gilding-metal. (KK)
(22) As KK1449 but all in White-metal
(23) As KK1449 but all in gold-anodised (sealed 8 May 1952). (KK) (2xH/Lugs)
(24) As KK1449 but all in silver-anodised (sealed 8th May 1952) (KK) (Slider Firmin London)


Please Note : (KK) represents as detailed in Kipling & King.


From what I have subsequently learnt on this forum, I would pressume that the OSD/Bronzed badges with lugs (nos 6 & 17) for both the Berks IY and Berks Yeo are maybe collars as OSD badges had blades, though the officer's already used a bronzed version of the Star and crescent collar badge.

Anyway hope this is of some help.

Ian

[sean michael cronin]

Although well documented the collar badge worn by the Berkshire yeomanry is the star and crescent taken from the Arms of Hungerford. I believe the badge in the thumb nails to be a variation, it is die stamped gilding metal and at some time silver plated. Any advice appreciated. Cheers Sean.

[orasot]

Hi Sean,
No 81 in Churchill & Westlakes book shows your collar in G/M & No 82 shows the star & crescent in bronze, maybe yours is OR's only ?
Wilf.

[Alan O]

It looks like their No1 Dress Arm badge. I have seen the Yeomanry in their blues and the NCOs were wearing them on their sleeves above their stripes and not on their collars.

[matti467]

If it is white metal I would also go for arm badge. The arm badge is worn on No1s and I see it most Remembrance days as we go to the war memorial in Windsor down by the river which is dedicated to the Berks Yeomanry.
Matti

[4966Ian]

Hi folks,

As mentioned above, the White horse of Berkshire over a scroll inscribed "Berkshire", was worn in facing pairs as collar badges (Churchill & Westlake Nos.81). Size : 33mm W x 19mm H. This is the normal Other Ranks pattern collar badge. (Generally Officer's used the Star and crescent badge.)

I have seen or heard of them in:

1. Gilding Metal
2. White Metal
3. Bronze (cast)
4. Chrome (could be a very shiny white metal)
5. Gold Anodised

In Hodges book (page 381), he shows the following 2 versions of these collar badges:

(a) Chrome(?) version which he states is: Soldier's Number 1 Dress Collar badges (3.25cm x 1.75cm).
(b) Number 2 Dress Cast collar badges (3.25cm x 1.75cm)

The Arm badge is of the same design but is usually much bigger (51mm W x 28mm H) (I believe the same size as the Cap badge), faces left and is worn above the Rank Stripes. This is usually in Chrome or Silver Plate.

In Hodges book (page 381), he shows the large Arm Badge as:
"Berkshire Yeomanry Senior NCOs Rank Badge (5.25cm x 3cm). Also worn as a pouch badge."


An embroidered/bullion version of the arm badge is also available for use on full dress.

I see my measurements and Hodges vary slightly, must get a digital micrometer.


Cheers

Ian

[Luke H]

Originally Posted by 4966Ian

Berkshire Imperial Yeomanry : 1899 to 1908

The White Horse of Berkshire with a scroll below inscribed “Berkshire” & below this the letters “IY”. Pattern approved 23rd August 1902 in Brass. (KK 1340).

OTHER RANKS - Slouch-Hat and Forage-Cap Badges
(10) As KK1340 but Horse and letters “IY” in white metal whilst scroll inscribed “Berkshire” in gilding-metal.

Berkshire Yeomanry : 1908 to date
The White Horse of Berkshire with a scroll below inscribed “Berkshire”. (KK 1449).

OTHER RANKS - Forage Cap
(20) As KK1449 but the Horse in White-metal, the scroll in gilding-metal. (KK)

The BM Berks IY and Yeo badges are all fakes that first appeared in the 1960s. The authors of the Coronation Booklet included a reference to this type in their main text which unfortunately gave them some credence in the literature. Keith Hook did point this error out to the authors at the time. Sadly the mistake was also replicated in Kipling & King.

So good news is two less badges to look out for.

[BROOKIES]

Good afternoon.

Not really adding anything to the thread but just show this image of a trooper taken in 1908 whilst at camp with the Glam Imp Yeo (card dated 1908)

Ta

Jonathan

Pic.jpg

[cbuehler]

He would not be a Trooper, but a Corporal signal instructor if I read that right. Very nice photo.

CB