British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum

Recent Books by Forum Members

   

Go Back   British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum > British Military Insignia > Royal Artillery, Royal Engineers and Royal Signals.

 Other Pages: Galleries, Links etc.
Glossary  Books by Forum Members     Canadian Pre 1914    CEF    CEF Badge Inscriptions   Canadian post 1920     Canadian post 1953     British Cavalry Badges     Makers' Marks    Pipers' Badges  Canadian Cloth Titles  Books  SEARCH
 
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 12-12-19, 02:45 AM
Britbadge's Avatar
Britbadge Britbadge is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: USA
Posts: 143
Default Cord Boss Badges

The Queen's Own Gurkha Engineers have Boss badges, that come in two colours: Red and Black.

What is the significance in the Colours?

Also, can anyone address the history/significance behind the cord/boss badges?

Thanks,

Drew
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 12-12-19, 09:27 PM
Gurkha's Avatar
Gurkha Gurkha is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 635
Default

Hi Drew,
Boss badges are only worn by the officers, the Blue one is worn on the Khaki peaked cap and the Red one on the No1 Blue dress cap.
When GE were formed they followed the dress of the Gurkha Infantry regiments as far as possible, as the infantry officers wore a cord boss, they followed suit.
No historical significance to the choice of colour as far as I am aware.

Regards
Steve M
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 13-12-19, 02:49 AM
Britbadge's Avatar
Britbadge Britbadge is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: USA
Posts: 143
Default

Steve,

Thank you so much for the informative feedback. So Black is actually "blue" - inq blue!
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 13-12-19, 09:31 AM
mike_vee's Avatar
mike_vee mike_vee is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Uxbridge
Posts: 4,892
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Britbadge View Post
So Black is actually "blue" - inq blue!
Historically (1882) it was different:

"Active Service and Peace Manoeuvre Cap

- Green cloth of special pattern, ornamented in front with a silver bugle placed on a scarlet cord boss for the2nd Goorkhas, and on black cord boss for other regiments."

From 'The Gurkha Rifles' by J. B. R. NICHOLSON
__________________
British Legion/Royal British Legion , Poppy/Remembrance/Commemorative.

Poppy and British Legion Wanted
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 13-12-19, 11:51 PM
Toby Purcell's Avatar
Toby Purcell Toby Purcell is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Completed colour service and retired
Posts: 3,202
Default

Garter blue is the facing colour of the Royal Engineers so they simply took the rifle regiments traditional cord boss and changed it from the black to the blue, thus tieing the two traditions together.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

mhs link

All times are GMT. The time now is 05:41 AM.


Powered by: vBulletin
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.