"Indian Army"?

[Nyles]

Anyone ever seen one of these before? Any idea of the era? I've seen the plain GRI with crown and the GRI with crown and wreath, but never with the "Indian Army". Thoughts?

[sapper533]

Possibly Indian General Service Corps ?
Sean

[Hussar100]

I'd say Indian Army Corps of Royal Engineers but I'll try to confirm that.

[Hussar100]

I've now done quite a comprehensive search and although I can find several badges which are similar in some respects I cannot find the match of this one. sorry but there isn't anything more I can offer at this time. We need an expert on Indian badges or someone who has the right reference books.

[AndyC_65]

It's obviously cast.

I wonder if someone has used the Royal Engineers badge as a template for a fantasy item?

cheers,

Andy C

[Hussar100]

Originally Posted by AndyC_65

It's obviously cast.

I wonder if someone has used the Royal Engineers badge as a template for a fantasy item?

cheers,

Andy C

Andy I don't think there's any point on speculating over this one. I saw what I believe was a complete list of pre-Independence Indian army badges and it wasn't listed. We need an expert here to tell us the facts.

[Nyles]

Well, I hope it's not a fantasy piece, but I don't have anything substantial into it if it is! I'll wait out for more info.

[pinfrin]

Four on this site ?
http://www.deadspartan.co.uk/viewpho...h=56831&phqu=2

[peter monahan]

It's not the Service Corps badge, which had an ASC cypher in the centre and the garter motto; nor the General service badge - GRI in a crowned wreath - issued to officer cadets and others without a regimental or corps affiliation. I have been dabbling in Indian badges for 30+ years and don't recall seeing anything quite like it, which may mean nothing at all, but I wonder too whether it is a bazaar made fantasy piece.

My two rupees worth.

[Hussar100]

Originally Posted by pinfrin

Four on this site ?
http://www.deadspartan.co.uk/viewpho...h=56831&phqu=2

Funny I was on that site earlier but got bored with it because I couldn't see how many pages there were. What does it say the badge is?

Ah, got it, page 27 of Colonial Badges - Indian Army General Service Corps. I had seen badges identified as such but they just had the laurel wreath and not the inner.

[Nyles]

Interesting. Does the reference give a date it was used, or anything else to suggest what separates it from the more common version?

[Nyles]

Just realized you meant the website. Never mind!

[Gurkha]

I've had a look in Cox and checked the 1931 IA dress Regs and cant find it.

Steve

[sapper533]

When I suggested IGSC it wasn't quite random, Im stuck at the mo as all my reference materials are still in packing crates along with most of my collection as we have just moved to Greece but although I do have this badge myself I'm almost sure I identified it from two sources which I now of course cant get to.
1 Pretty sure this was shown in a series of articles on WW2 Indian badges that appeared in the pages of Crown Imperial.
2. Military Historical Society produced an excellent poster called Indian Army badges 1939-47 and I'm almost positive this badge was shown on that poster.
3. I wanted to check John Gaylors excellent book Sons of John Company in the Corps and Depts section, this gives brief descriptions of all badges worn and and although I can't recall if this badge is described there it would be a good place to look.

So if any members have the above that they could check something may turn up, apologies again that I am unable to at present.
Cheers
Sean

[pinfrin]

Originally Posted by Gurkha

I've had a look in Cox and checked the 1931 IA dress Regs and cant find it.

Steve

Not in the 1913 IA Dress Regs. either.
seen:

Small Print: From the Army Regs Dress 1913 Appendix 1
(Uniform; Facings; Badges & Devices):
[1] Officers Of the UL awaiting admission to the IA -
Uniform Red; Facings Blue
Badges and Devices - On Buttons- On Buttons Gilt, burnished,
with Tudor Crown and scalloped edge.
On forage cap - Royal and Imperial Cypher and Tudor Crown in gilt metal
[2] Departmental Commission and Warrant Officers
The buttons have a GR 1 with a laurel wreath and Tudor Crown
but the forage cap has The Royal and Imperial Cypher (?).

The 1937, 1886, 1901 Dress Regs India and Army Regulations, India,
Vol XI, Clothing, 1904 ,1909,1914 may have notes; QVC, KC etc ?
To buy some day.