Royal Artillery grenade badge questions

[54Bty]

The only badges worn on the 'Pill Box Cap' (Undress Forage Cap) by members of the Regular Royal Regiment of Artillery were Chevrons, either single for Bombardiers or double for Corporals. A brass universal pattern grenade, was worn on the Other Ranks Field Service Cap from c1895, prior to this the brass letters RA were worn.

The large universal pattern Grenade was worn in the Pagri on the front of the white Foreign Service Helmet by both Officers and Other Ranks from around 1900, until replaced by the Gun badge in 1903.

Marc

[3dg]

Many thanks Marc for your post.
That all makes sense, the only photos I've seen of regulars wearing pill box hats , they have stipes or nothing at all.
Just the Volunteers then with the WM Grenadier style cap badge.
Cheers all for your time.

Chris

[Toby Purcell]

Originally Posted by grenadierguardsman

However the date 1896 is well out.....
Andy

I totally agree with all that you’ve said Andy. The Exact pattern (size, precise dimensions and design) evolved according to the headdress worn. The metal cap badges worn today by all regiments largely owe their origins to metal badges of the Guards first worn on cartouche pouches and cross belt plates. The badge worn today is not the same as that worn on the final pattern of pillbox style forage cap worn aslant on the head and invariably secured by a chinstrap down. 1840s was the earliest that I have been able to trace a brass grenade (fired proper) worn in Grenadiers headdress. It was worn by the flank companies of line regiments above their number first. A universal pattern was used.

[Toby Purcell]

And by way of a comparison, here is usage by an auxiliary artillery unit in the West Indies.

[Toby Purcell]

And here a pagri badge of the 102nd Grenadiers, British-Indian Army and originally of the Bombay Army. Along with the 101st they were formed from a group of flank companies and titled and organised as a grenadier regiment before the 1st Foot Guards in Britain were made an all Grenadier unit.