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#1
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"Gold Gun" - Guards Marksman
Does anybody know anything about a "Gold Gun" worn on the chest by the best shot in a Grenadier Guards Battalion?
By this I mean a metal badge made of gold, that was/is kept in the safe when not being worn on the dress tunic. By the way, by "Gun" they mean rifle, and not artillery piece. I am reading the autobiography of a man who won this badge in the 1960s. there is a photo of him wearing it, and I will post a scan either later today or over the weekend.
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Orationem pulchram non habens, scribo ista linea in lingua Latina Last edited by BWEF; 19-03-10 at 02:59 PM. |
#2
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I was able to get back to this sooner than I thought I would.
The book in question is: "Reflections of an Idle Guardman" by Dave Sexstone, published by The Book Guild Limited of Lewes, Sussex, in 1991. I attach a scan of the author, in Grenadier Guards uniform, wearing the badge in London in 1963. Also, a cropped, and enlarged scan of the badge itself. Dave Sexstone says: "Winter turned to spring, and that spring I struck gold. Shooting was the only sport I was ever any good at, and that year, during our annual musketry fortnight at Pirbright, I managed to shoot straighter than anyone else, and was awarded with the 'Gold Gun'. It was a handsome gold rifle-shaped medal that had been presented to the Battalion a century before, and it was competed for every year. The winner was only permitted to wear it on special occasions when Royalty was present, and the Gold Gun spent most of its life locked in a safe". Anyone have any more detail?
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Orationem pulchram non habens, scribo ista linea in lingua Latina |
#3
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I may be wrong but I think there is an article about this badge in "The Bulletin of the Military Historical Society".
Last edited by 54Bty; 19-03-10 at 03:21 PM. |
#4
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There is a mention of it and photo in Robin Hodges' book 'British Army Badges'.
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#5
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I cannot recall any mention of this badge in the MHS Bulletin but I may be wrong.
It is a great pity there is not a single comprehensive index to all the MHS Bulletins. P.B.
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Interested in all aspects of militaria/military history but especially insignia and history of non regular units with a Liverpool connection Members welcome in my private Facebook group “The Kings Liverpool Regiment ( 1685-1958 )” |
#6
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With a really good picture. It's just a pity he never researched the book more thoroughly as some of it is wrong.
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#7
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Quote:
I suggest that Robin Hodges was sometimes misled with duff information provided by well meaning serving officers and soldiers and perhaps the sometimes contradictory views of expert collectors. You only have to look at some the posts on this excellent forum to realise that we are not dealing with a precise science and it is not always possible to be right all the time! That said the typos and some incorrect numbering here and there should have been sorted out in the proof reading stage. Is a second edition in preparation? |
#8
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Quote:
But it is a great picture source. Tom |
#9
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I would agree it's a great book, but as others have said, a pity about the many typos.
Hodges said somewhere (can't remember where; maybe he told me in an email) that there will be a new edition ten years after the first one, which means 2015, I think. There should be room for some reformed regiments, new units like the Special Reconaissance Regiment, Special Forces Support Group, and the new SBS badge, not to mention all the Afghan theatre badges. Who knows what else by then. |
#10
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Thanks for all the input.
Is there any chance of somebody posting the photo and information from Robin Hodges' book?
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Orationem pulchram non habens, scribo ista linea in lingua Latina |
#11
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Quote:
ISBN 0-9551464-0-5 |
#12
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Quote:
The illustrations I posted were none too clear, and it is good to know who presented the "Gun",
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Orationem pulchram non habens, scribo ista linea in lingua Latina |
#13
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The Golden Gun
The Golden Gun is on display within the Guards Museum.
It is still shot for today and is taken out once a year for when the Regiment has its shooting competition. The winner has his photo taken wearing the gun and it is then returned to the museum. |
#14
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Dave Sexstone the idle guardsman
Hello
Does anyone on here know this author? He is my uncle and I would love to contact him or his sons (my long lost cousins) |
#15
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The badge is also shown in "British Army Proficiency Badges".
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