Corps of Guides, Suffolk - British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum

alan keates · #1 02-08-11, 02:39 PM

Hello all

I have a badge which was made by Bliss Bros of Birmingham, it is an open badge, circular banner in green, unknown castle inside the circle, lapel type badge number 42. Inside the green banner we have CORPS OF GUIDES SUFFOLK. possible age around 1910. Can anyone identify this badge please.

Sonofacqms · #2 02-08-11, 06:02 PM

The Corps of guides were formed pre WW1 to guide bodies of troops around the country. The reason this was that all road signs and place names would be taken down in time of a War, so in many ways this was the Government having a good idea with what was to take place in the near future.

I believe there may have been a thread on this previously.

CftD · #3 02-08-11, 07:32 PM

I always considered it a bit of a laugh that these units were named after one of the most prestigious regiments of the Indian Army. David

Sonofacqms · #4 02-08-11, 09:47 PM

David, I could not agree with you more, in fact there are people who have told me that they thought that they were a unit that was raised by Lady Baden Powell, to say they were "shadowy" is an understatement.

Some time ago a friend and I tried to find out how many counties had "Corps of Guides", he had a good collection of badges ranging from East Anglian units to Welsh, but just how far this organisation stretched is now I would think a good subject for research.

The Suffolk and Cambridgeshire Corps of Guides both had the Regimental castles as a central device, Suffolk retaining the two turret version as the original Suffolk Regt. cap badge, Cambridgeshire the three turret as the Cambs cap badge.

Rob

Graham Stewart · #5 03-08-11, 06:00 PM

I do have at home a copy of the order for the raising of a "Corps of Guides" for Northumberland. You'll find out more about them if your local Record Office has kept any Minutes of Meetings relating to your local Territorial Force Association.

norfolk regt man · #6 26-09-11, 11:43 AM

i have a photo copy of the disbandment letter for the camb. corps of guides, in which it states there where 127 members, it was rasied in 1912 and was part of the tech reserve, territorial force association.
The M.H.S. had a notes by philip haythornthwaite on the surrey guides in there nov 1985 news letter.
uniform notes are covered in the navy and army illustrated april 1915