16th Cameron Highlanders - British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum

irish · #1 21-07-13, 02:42 PM

Here is a badge in my collection for the 16th CH of Western Australia. It has a darkened finish. Appears to be die stamped and is heavy. No makers mark on a 2 lug reverse. What date range would this have come from. all feedback is appreciated

Thanks
Jack

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slick_mick · #2 21-07-13, 10:48 PM

I don't like that back of it to be honest.

Will have to compare it to one I have.

Mick

irish · #3 22-07-13, 02:48 AM

Thanks Mick,

Donny B. · #4 22-07-13, 05:18 AM

Your badge looks as though it is meant to be a 16th Infantry Battalion (The Cameron Highlanders of Western Australia) which was probably used from about 1936 when the new 16th was raised as the Cameron Highlanders, through to about 1953 when it was replaced by a different version. Yours has the big XVl, feet together forward facing St Andrew, the later one has a smaller XVl, feet apart left glancing St Andrew.

I do not profess to be an expert and I do not want to say that there is anything wrong with your badge but there appear to be some worrying aspects about it. It does appear to me to have more of a cast look about it. I would not have thought it but I do suspect that there may be a few duds of this badge around. I know some newly made badges were being produced in the eastern states, by Heritage Medals, maybe, at one time, but I think theirs had clutch pins at the back. I also saw about half a dozen advertised in Bulgaria of all places. It seemed to me a bit unusual for a bunch of Western Australian badges to turn up in a place like that all at the same time and it is probably cause for concern. They looked nice but seemed to be of lighter construction than one would expect. I saw a blackened one like yours on eBay fairly recently....from New Zealand, I think.

Check the lugs on yours. All of these badges that I have seen have a lug that is quite different to that normally found. It is kind of a flat bit of metal with a hole drilled through and only one leg.

Anyway, someone, I am sure, will give you a more expert opinion regarding your badge but in the meantime I have attached photos of one of my badges (with which I am quite happy), for you to compare some of the detail on the thistles, leaves, etc., a photo trying to show the lugs and a photo showing both versions of the badge.

I Man

slick_mick · #5 22-07-13, 05:42 AM

Mate,

The more I look at the badge compared to Donny's, the more I dislike it.

It looks cast to me and has the wrong type of lugs IMHO.

Mick

badgecollector · #6 22-07-13, 06:51 AM

hi irish
im sorry to say but i also think this badge is cast and therefore a copy.
it looks heavy, and the reverse looks to have poor detail and file marks at about 3-5 o'clock and 8-9 o'clock. it is hard to tell due to the black paint? on it. im not sure the blackened versions of these were done in paint but in an oxydating method. and i think the lugs are wrong. all the ones i have have the flat type lug with a hole drilled in it
but i may be wrong,
bc

irish · #7 22-07-13, 12:04 PM

Hello Mates, thanks for the input. Upon looking at Donny's badge I do see the differences. Would imagine I have some dud's mixed into my collection. Hopefully I can continue to weed them out. However I must admit that I had slight concern on this one also, mainly due to it's weight.

Still learning. Although at my age you would think the learning would be done by now.

Great forum here and I appreciate everyone's well thought out responses.

Best
Jack