British Security Coordination - British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum

David Tremain · #1 05-01-12, 07:02 PM

Following on from my comments about BSC in a previous posting before Christmas it had me wondering, just who exactly would have worn these BSC badges? The organization was supposed to be secret, as was Camp X at Whitby, Ontario, so it seems unlikely that the guards would have wanted to advertise the fact that they were a special unit. All the photos I have seen of staff and instructors there either weren't wearing head gear or wore their regimental badge, possibly even a GSC one. It was suggested to me last night at a militaria meeting I was at that in Canada the Veterans Guard of Canada would have likely guarded such premises. David

engr9266 · #2 05-01-12, 07:54 PM

Here is a link for Camp X showing the cap badges.
http://home.ca.inter.net/~hagelin/campx.html

David Tremain · #3 06-01-12, 04:15 AM

Thanks Jerry, but it still doesn't answer the basic question, who actually wore them when the camp was supposed to be secret?
David

Fatboy Ken · #4 06-01-12, 05:36 AM

Hi David

Happy New Year to you,

I believe that when these individuals were together doing their training, .... in barracks, they would like to be recognised as belonging to BSC. Remember !! they were working with other nations, and units in Canada &n the USA.

I remember doing a Sgt's Admin Course in the army in the late 90's, and a member of the SAS was present on the same course, in full uniform, he was a great individual, and was very helpful to us all, ..... as we were all in awe at him =O

I expect he was a very proud guy as well, being able to wear his colours and badge in the open with the pride he deserves to have. I along with everyone else was just as proud as to be in his company, it was a classroom orientated course, (BRAINSTRAIN) =O

So !! Yes they are secret, but not that secret when in house with the rest of us, if the OSS & BSC had a badge, what did the Canadian and British civvis wear, so having a badge to wear in the beggining brings them all closer together, and gives that "Esprite de Corps". (Even though it's secret)

They just don't want the enemy to know who they are, .... that's all, I expect there are other Special Forces guys here that will agree.

But don't expect the Sneaky Beakies to say anything, as the 16 Int Guys n Gals in NI were a little different. =(

Cheers mate and you Jerry
FBK

engr9266 · #5 06-01-12, 11:15 AM

Somebody MUST have worn these badges, if not, why produce them

I believe that there were over 3000 personal in the BSC and some of them would have worn uniform at some time or other. Maybe because they were a "secret" organisation this information is still under a time release from HMG?? 75, 100 year rule??
Only time will tell..........

fougasse1940 · #6 06-01-12, 01:01 PM

Some relevant quotes from Len Whittaker's "Some talk of private armies":
- At the peak of its operations BSC headquarters had a strenth of close to a thousand men and women; except for a handful of Britons in some specialised posts it was a totally Canadian private army.
- The very last thing anyone was likely to need on most BSC's assignments was a uniform. Nonetheless, brass headdress badges were produced, but there is no evidence that either of these uninspired-looking prototypes ever received Stephenson's blessing or that the badges were ever worn.

Rgds,

Thomas.

engr9266 · #7 06-01-12, 01:58 PM

Thomas, Thanks for your post. At least it shows that the badges were produced BUT if not worn why produce a second pattern

Mike Jackson · #8 06-01-12, 02:25 PM

Is it worth considering that the badges may have been produced in order to reinforce the fiction that BSC was a. British, b. concerned primarily with security and c. engaged in nothing more aggressive that "coordination"? If this was the case a badge with the initials BSC would not help much in selling that fiction - so spell it out in full to encourage Abwehr and others operating in North America to get the message.
Obscure corridors throughout British history have had offices with unhelpful signs on the door saying things like "Joint Services Study Group" and "Divisional Support Group".

Phillip Herring · #9 06-01-12, 04:33 PM

I wonder if the badges were worn by uniformed administrative and guard/security staff rather than the civilian intelligence types. Just a thought.
Sorry, I just realised I was repeating David's first post.

Phil

David Tremain · #10 06-01-12, 05:40 PM

Thanks guys for all your comments and insight. There must be documents somewhere shedding more light on this. As was stated, this may be covered by some 75 year rule or whatever. As Ken said, it is likely that they were worn solely within the camp, as I believe the SAS still do at Sterling Lines, but what would the BSC guys have done outside of camp or on leave? Swap them for a 'parent unit'? This calls for further investigation.
David

fougasse1940 · #11 07-01-12, 03:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by engr9266

Here is a link for Camp X showing the cap badges.
http://home.ca.inter.net/~hagelin/campx.html

From that website: Questions? Please email Richard at spytools@sympatico.ca
Why not send him an e-mail?

Rgds,

Thomas.

David Tremain · #12 07-01-12, 04:02 AM

I emailed Lynn-Philp Hodgson at the Camp X Society who wrote:

The one with just BSC on it was worn by BSC security guards in New York to signify that they belonged to the BSC SO-1 security branch and were on duty. The one that spells out British Security Co-ordination was made after the war and worn by security people at reunions.

and in response to my follow-up reply he wrote back:

Sure, you can quote me David as I asked Eric Curwain that very question as I too was interested in knowing why they had these badges. Anyone on a floor 3600 or 3500 who got into trouble of any kind would automatically summon one of these people vs. the British Passport Control guards who were just a front for the real operations.

Strangely enough I have never come across any documents that mention these badges in either, Ottawa, Washington or Kew.

David

#13 12-01-12, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fatboy Ken

Hi David

Happy New Year to you,

I believe that when these individuals were together doing their training, .... in barracks, they would like to be recognised as belonging to BSC. Remember !! they were working with other nations, and units in Canada &n the USA.

I remember doing a Sgt's Admin Course in the army in the late 90's, and a member of the SAS was present on the same course, in full uniform, he was a great individual, and was very helpful to us all, ..... as we were all in awe at him =O

I expect he was a very proud guy as well, being able to wear his colours and badge in the open with the pride he deserves to have. I along with everyone else was just as proud as to be in his company, it was a classroom orientated course, (BRAINSTRAIN) =O

So !! Yes they are secret, but not that secret when in house with the rest of us, if the OSS & BSC had a badge, what did the Canadian and British civvis wear, so having a badge to wear in the beggining brings them all closer together, and gives that "Esprite de Corps". (Even though it's secret)

They just don't want the enemy to know who they are, .... that's all, I expect there are other Special Forces guys here that will agree.

But don't expect the Sneaky Beakies to say anything, as the 16 Int Guys n Gals in NI were a little different. =(

Cheers mate and you Jerry
FBK

That should read 14 Int I believe.