Confirmation on this badge please

[Herman the Tank]

Hello - all.

I am needing some help re this Oxford & Buckinghamshire light infantry regimental beret badge. (it is attached to a beret)

There is a 'interesting story' to tell - but - firstly I need to establish whether this particular badge is WW1 or WW2? and could it be silver? (I have not checked it yet) there are 'no' hall marks present but I don't know if these sorts of badges carried any hall marks at all?

Please ask me if you need any more info at this stage?

Many thanks

[Mike H]

Looks more like a buglers badge to me

[leigh kitchen]

The Oxf and Bucks LI shoulder title bugles were worn on CFSC, FSC, maroon berets and GS Caps during WWII, w/m and plated ones.

[Alan O]

Won't be WW1. Berets would be mid WW2 at the earliest. The Regular OBLI wore silver small bugles in the 1930s under regtl arrangements.

[leigh kitchen]

I've just had a squint at the "Lightbobs" site, these badges are mentioned there but the relevant page has gone belly up.

http://www.lightbobs.com/

[grey_green_acorn]

Major John Howard's beret and badge as displayed in the Pegasus Bridge museum.

Tim

[Skippy]

Sure there is a thread somewhere here about the Ox&Buck collar badges being silver plated at regimental cost early or pre-war, certainly by those with the 6th Airlanding Brigade.

Pretty sure the thread had a picture of a badge exactly like that of the OP and I think it was in the collection of Luke?

A lovely badge anyway.

Cheers……John

[leigh kitchen]

Found a way to a Lightbobs site page that works:

http://www.lightbobs.com/headdress.html

CAP BADGE
Regimental War Chronicle Vol 2 1940-1942
Early in August (1940) Lieutenant-Colonels D.C. Covill, D.S.O., M.C. commanding the 43rd, L.W. Giles, M.C. commanding the 52nd, and G.E.
Whittal, M.C. commanding the I.T.C. , met at Cowley Brarracks and agreed on certain items which were circulated to all battalions as follows:

CAP BADGES:
Small shoulder title horn to be drawn by the Quatermaster from Ordnance, silvered privately and issued to the regiment at 2 1/2d.

As far as the 52nd were concerned this was not a new badge to them, they had already been wearing them as per the 52nds letter in the
Regimental Chronicle for 1927:-
“August 22.—Khaki Field Service Caps ordered to be replaced by all ranks with those of dark green colour as the former become unserviceable, the small bugle (shoulder bugle size of white metal) to be worn with the latter.”

[leigh kitchen]

Originally Posted by Skippy

Sure there is a thread somewhere here about the Ox&Buck collar badges being silver plated at regimental cost early or pre-war, certainly by those with the 6th Airlanding Brigade.

Pretty sure the thread had a picture of a badge exactly like that of the OP and I think it was in the collection of Luke?

A lovely badge anyway.

Cheers……John

This thread?
https://www.britishbadgeforum.com/fo...ht=Oxfordshire

And this......

https://www.britishbadgeforum.com/fo...ctureid=142000

[Skippy]

Yes! Well done Leigh, I was struggling to find it.

Cheers……John

[Herman the Tank]

Originally Posted by leigh kitchen

This thread?
https://www.britishbadgeforum.com/fo...ht=Oxfordshire

And this......

https://www.britishbadgeforum.com/fo...ctureid=142000

Thanks so far chaps, there looks to be 2 designs of badge as well, the typical common one which is a fairly plain bugle and this variant which is more ornate with scroll type design, was this more ornate one left a over design from the WW1 design? - then as we entered WW2 the design went plainer?

it certainly looks like it will be the 'bottom link' you have posted, it sure fits that description and that's also probably why it looks like silver, as it has been silver plated ( bearing no hall marks)

FYI
It is 1? tall and 1¼ at widest points across
It has 2 rear loops

It has a name inside on a label 'K.C.R.Brown'

So we are almost sure that this badge is WW2 supplied - Now an interesting bit - this badge sits upon a Beret - but the beret is Green , not Red as the OBLI wore???
I would say 99% that this regimental beret badge is original to the beret as the imprint shadow and marking left on the beret is that of this badge.

So what's the story there? - as it was only Commandos that wore a Green beret.

Could this scenario below be plausible? – This is only speculation.

Soldier ‘Brown’ was in the Oxford & Buckinghamshire light infantry circa late 1930’s early 40’s and acquired an Oxford & Buckinghamshire light infantry regimental badge, at that stage the badges that were being made and issued were still adopting the WW1 design.
Early 1940’s he joined the newly formed Commandos. At this early inception of the commandos the men (seemingly) could still retain their own regimental cap/beret badges and in 1942 they were issued with the Commando Green Berets which he then attached the small Oxford & Buckinghamshire light infantry beret badge that he had from earlier.

Is that the possible story of this beret?

Your thoughts and any info would be appreciated.

[leigh kitchen]

Is the beret definitely Commando green not Rifle Green? (I couldn't determine from the image).
Check with the Commando Veterans Forum re. the name, see if they have him listed as WWII Commando.

[leigh kitchen]

I've just had a quick check, haven't seen a KCR Brown, only a KS Brown, of 5 Commando, but I've only checked the A-Z, not nominal rolls or gallery.

[Skippy]

Need to see a picture in natural light, but IMO that beret in the OP is Rifle green. Not a bright enough green to be a Commando beret.

Cheers……John

[Skippy]

And if you do post more pictures, one of the beret turned inside out so we can see the inside lining if it is still there and can then assess the period of manufacture.

Cheers……John