264 Sqdn (SAS) Royal Corps of Signals cap/beret badge

[MattH]

Hi all,
First of all, please forgive my ignorance in this area.
I have been searching for some time for information on the beret badge worn by 264 (SAS) Squadron Royal Corps of Signals. I keep reading the same text in various places that the unit is allowed to wear the beige/sand beret of the SAS, but it then always says "with the CAP badge of the RCS".
I'm struggling a bit because the usual cap badge is metal. I was under the impression that the SAS always used cloth badges.
To that end I have three versions of the Jimmy...
1 Metal "cap" badge.
1 cloth badge with sand/beige background
1 cloth badge with black background

I am sure the answer is common knowledge but the information I've read so far appears contradictory. Can someone please help me out?

Warm regards,

Matt

[oc14]

I have had relatives serving in this unit. Other ranks wear the normal 2 piece metal or staybright cap badge, officers wear the standard pattern wire embroidered royal signals beret badge.

Hope this helps


Paul

[Alan O]

Paul is quite correct.

Alan

[54Bty]

The background of the officers badge should match the colour of the beret being worn.

[54Bty]

I am sure you mean 'dark navy blue' and I should have added 'by the regulations the background'.

[Alan O]

Yes to be exact it is dark navy blue. Although 216 Sig Sqn wear the badge with a maroon background as standard. Officers attached to 3 Cdo Dde wear the green beret with a green backed badge as well. As an aside a new Officers beret badge has been introduced this year with a redesigned red globe.

Alan

[Quicksilver]

I believe you are right that the normal R. Signals officers wire wove (bullion) beret badge was initially worn. My own sources tell me that 63 (SAS) Signal Sqn unofficially started wearing a sand coloured backing. That was about ten years ago so it seems to have taken over. Having never seen any official documents regarding this it is unconfirmed. Now it looks like the various squadrons of 18 UKSF Signal Regiment wear the sand backed Jimmy too for all ranks. Perhaps others can clarify that. Presume that includes SRR but not SBS Signal Sqns.

Rgds Cliff

[54Bty]

Royal Corps of Signals bullion wire badge on SAS beret material.

[MattH]

Gents,

Many thanks for all this very useful information. I shall be fixing the metal Jimmy.

I somehow knew that the simple statements some people provide regarding badges and insignia hid a great deal of depth.

Thanks very much again.

Matt

[David Tremain]

Robin Hodges' book 'British Army Badges' shows a signaller with, I think 264 Sigs, wearing the SAS beret and a two-part Royal Signals badge.

[Unknownsoldier]

AFAIK, 264 wear a metal jimmy on their sand beret (at least the ones I have seen do). Officers only generally wear an embroidered one though. OC14 is correct.

Tom

[Mike H]

OR`s definately wear a "jimmy" in the beret as do 63 sqn (TA)

[1RGLI]

If it helps I can also confirm that back in the early 80's the staybright Jimmy was definately worn by OR's in the SAS beret when serving in 264 Sig Sqn. one of my fellow soldiers who qualifed and returned back for a short while to our unit (can't remember why), also wore the most prestigious item the 264 brown/green lanyard and not the standard blue lanyard of the Royal Signals.

Incidently I always wore on excercises (Unoficially) a solid metal Jimmy with a slider to the rear (not the usual 2 lugs) in my dark blue signals beret with a standard staybright Queens crown (with lug), not sure what period this brass & white metal Jimmy badge was from but I still have it somewhere, saved the Jimmy breaking in cammo nets all the time.

1RGLI

[wardog]

I not up on modern special forces. Can someone tell me what SRR is? Cheers, Paul.

[wardog]

Found it myself. http://www.eliteukforces.info/