14th Hussars Canadian Officers Badges

[Phillip Herring]

I was fortunate that my godfather gave me all of his badges a number of years ago. He was a Lieutenant in the Recce Corps (British Army), VIII Recce (Cdn Army) and RCD's.
Among his cap badges were VIII Recce in w/m and brass overlay, VIII Recce collar badge and 14th CANADIAN LIGHT HORSE in brass.
Neither of the cap badges could be described as officers'.
I have never heard of LIGHT HORSE officers' badges and I would guess (this is an invitation to anybody to prove me wrong) that even though the 14th CLH/VIII Recce were initially badged as 14 CLH, they were initially an "ad hoc" unit formed from troops serving in 2nd CID. Chris Brooker has written about LCol Mann (the CO) initiating the VIII Recce badge as opposed to the 14th CLH badge in order to foster esprit de corps. Quite possibly there was no opportunity to get officers' badges made.
Ref the VIII Recce sans overlay, I was told by a well respected collector that this was the first issue.
I have seen cast examples and was told that they were made in Holland by melting down coins.
Any comments?

[Michael Reintjes]

...Of the 14th cap badge being worn by 8th Recce Soldiers cand be found onn this page.
http://members.shaw.ca/the8recce/8_recce_scrapbook.htm

[Bill A]

Mike The images don't show for me.
Opps, okay I see a few of them. The one with the Dutch civilians....Great photo evidence of the badge being worn.

[Michael Reintjes]

.....cap badges and the painting of helmat badges here...
http://members.shaw.ca/the8recce/8_recce_history.htm

[Michael Reintjes]

some mention of the now infamous Capt Sewell at the bottom of the history page..

[Bill A]

That one page summary history has some details that need checking. The sequence of badging, for one. From my understanding the unit wore the 14th Canadian Light Horse badges. Is this another example of badges being changed during the war and after the fact approvals being made in 1949? Like the 8th Canadian Hussars Princess Louise's?

[chaudiere1944]

Hi Mike,

The auction in Creemore that I mentioned to you at the CSMMI show on Sunday had many items from the Sewell collection. Included were 3 Battledress, 1 Service Dress (with OSD Collars) and 1 Summer Dress.

All 3 BD's had Embroidered Titles with both the VIII Recce/14 Ch description and all had the Second Division patch without the 'Bulls Eye'. The thing that was throwing me off was the lack of the "Bulls Eye Patch" which as I mentioned to you I thought should have been present.

Regrettably I was outbid for the items in what was called a 'First Choice' Auction which meant that the winner of the bidding for 1 of the Battledress had the option to purchase all of them...had I known how it worked I would have bid differently. All 3 BD's went for $500 each ( additional Buyer Premium 10% and 13% HST) and the Service Dress went for $400...all were sold to the one Buyer.

Also in the collection was 1 Huge Lot that included 3 VIII Recce cap badges (1 real and the others I believed to be Reunion Badges), approx 4 pairs of VIII/14 CH Embroidered Shoulder Titles and 2 Pairs of VIII/14 CH Canvas Titles. This lot was also purchased by the same Buyer of the BD's for $1050.

This auction which was mostly for Firearms/Ammunition did not have any of these items catalogued which had it been would have drawn out more military minded collectors...the Auctioneer mentioned that in March the remainder of this collection will be on the block.

Mike Kennelly

[Michael Reintjes]

I was hoping not to hear this story again in this lifetime....I,ve had countless horrifying,life altering, nightmares since you told me Mike. anyway,an impressive lot of stuff indeed and to a very interesting unit....I wished I'd seen them all just to view all the badging. Must have been something to see. I,m off to have a few drinks. My Cousin has arrived home safely from A-STAN today...Life is good.

[Bill A]

Is this why we should all have our "camera" phones or take a digital camera to shows / auctions?

[chaudiere1944]

Hi Mike/Bill,

Mike: Good to hear 'Pistol Pete' is back home safe and sound!

If it makes you feel any better after talking to you I too have had the same nightmares of what could have been...the crappy thing was the way this "First Choice" auction worked as it totally took me by surprise and had it been explained better by the Auctioneer it would have changed my bidding strategy.

Bill: So true about bringing a camera phone...in fact while I was there I had wished I brought mine so that I could upload the Lots to the Forum for advice...lessen learned unfortunately the hard way!


The Auctioneer described Capt. Sewell as a Hoarder and that there was still a warehouse full of his items that will be brought to auction in March. Evidently he had a wide range of collecting interests including a lot of Helmets.

Mike

[Bill A]

Thanks for the gen Mike.
Now that the word is out, there will be a hoard of dealers at the auction. Would the auctioneer post a list of the lots?

[James S]

I often attend this auction, but with nothing listed that interested me I did not attend. Let the nightmares begin

James

P.S.
Mike,
Good to hear your cousin is back home safe and sound.

[chaudiere1944]

Hi Gang,

Not sure if the auctioneer would catalogue the lots...he obviously did not for this one because his focus is on Guns/Ammunition.

As for a hoard of Dealers showing up...all it takes is 1 to show up because at the Auction the 1 individual who won the lots I described is probably the deepest pocketed dealer/collector that I have seen at all the auctions I have been too in the last few years. In reality even if I knew how the 'First Choice' auction worked this guy would have likely outbid me as many collectors have affirmed to me when I told them at the CSMMI show. One thing is for sure...I would have made him pay a lot more for it.

[Michael Reintjes]

my guess is there will be more competition next time...

[marway_Jaime]

Just an FYI the collection was divided into two parts, and a lot went down south to an auction house in New York I think. We were offered it but the volume was just to much for even us! Wish I had kept the picturs, un real!