royal signals subdued badge

[signalman]

does anyone have any information on this badge used in northern ireland?.i served from 1972-3 and we never had them,i also dont remember seeing one in my 16 months travels around ulster.i would like one for my collection.has anyone seen any.?

[Alan O]

The only subdued ones that I have ever seen have been owner-painted a/a. There has never to my knowledge been a black issued badge.
Certainly the last Signals Regiment to conduct a Maze tour was 201 Sig Sqn from 1(UK) ADSR and they did not get any new badge for that. 15 Sig Regt and the Bde Sqns were wearing self-painted badges when they closed down with the end of the Troubles.

Alan

[Mike H]

Same here,i wasnt ever issued one or have come across one.Probaly hand painted regimentally.

[signalman]

thanks for the reply.mike,alan.one of the reasons i asked was i like yourselves have seen the diy jobs done in theater.but i came across this site.www.signalsbadges.co.uk where if you look at the uk section another tale is told.i await your views.phil.

[Alan O]

Phil,

If it was commissioned in 1970 then it must have had a short period of issue and certainly did not make it into the 1990s let alone up to 2007.

Alan

[Quicksilver]

Regret I dont know a lot about this subject but I do have an anodized cap badge which has been hand painted matt black. It is about 20 years old. Also I have a manufactured black version that is in a dark material. Only had it about a year. It is llike a regular badge that has been sprayed. Never served in N.I. but those I have spoken to who did serve there say some had blackened badges and some did not. No doubt it was a squadron or regimental decision to hand paint them. FYI Maj A G Harfield states on page 14 of his book Headdress Badges and Embellishments of the Royal Corps of Signals published in 1982 that:The anodised cap badge has been worn blackened by troops serving in NI and an embroidered version of the Corps cap badge wasalso issued to units serving in that theatre.
Rgds Cliff

[signalman]

thank you quicksilver,i will pursue this in an ask ex sigs from n.i.when i meet them in my travels.glad to hear your back on parade.thanks gents.

[bess55]

Originally Posted by signalman

thanks for the reply.mike,alan.one of the reasons i asked was i like yourselves have seen the diy jobs done in theater.but i came across this site.www.signalsbadges.co.uk where if you look at the uk section another tale is told.i await your views.phil.

Thanks for the link mate, what a nice collection. Re the black anodised Royal Signals badge. I'm reasonably well versed in the staybrite arena and I've never heard of or come across a bespoke made black A RS cap badge. However never say never as we have seen before. The painting of regular badges (AA or not) for OP Banner tours and general exercise wear was common place and this has been discussed in a dedicated thread before from memory.

Clealy once it was obvious that NI tours would be ongoing, many regiments of course had them manufactured, some even being superceded by the creation of fabric beret badges (hence the term 'Ulsters' for these types), many of which carry on today and have been expanded by Regts for general operational wear.

My input for what its worth gents.

Regards to all

Bess.

[signalman]

thanks for the input bess.ive learnt something re the ulsters badges.regards.phil.

[Mike H]

The website says the badge is parkerized metal,that to me means sprayed metal similar to a rifle "parkerization",i do doubt that the base metal is aluminium.A black anodised badge is black japanned.

[signalman]

thanks mike.i like the site lots of sigs badges to look at.phil.

[Quicksilver]

A friend of mine was in 201 Sig Sqn in NI in 94-95 and says he pained his cap badge black while there.
Rgds
Cliff

[Quicksilver]

Had an email overnight from Chris Walker (just joined the Forum) and he tells me the following:

quote

Black Plated Parkerized badge. They were made by a company in Kent and were not an issue item you had to purchase them. They were advertised in military magazines. The only dates I have are between 1972 and 1980.

Unquote

I have not had a chance to have a look at my badge to see if it is Anodized or bi metal. Sounds like it is a bi metal item.

Rgds,

Cliff

Originally Posted by signalman

does anyone have any information on this badge used in northern ireland?.i served from 1972-3 and we never had them,i also dont remember seeing one in my 16 months travels around ulster.i would like one for my collection.has anyone seen any.?

[signalman]

thanks for all the replies.also for the signals badge site which is really good for signals badges from around the world.certa cito.phil.

[Mike H]

will speak to an old friend who served in 8 bgde in the early 80`s see if he ever came across them.