Field Service Cap colour guide

[High Wood]

Does such a thing as a guide to British Army Field Service Caps exist? I have found precious little on the internet apart from a guide to Canadian FSCs.

I have found a photograph of a similar cap to mine but the owner was trying and failing to identify it.

It has a white crown with yellow piping which is not particularly visible in my photograph. I would like to rebadge it as a badge has clearly been removed and judging from the discolouration the badge was probably circular with a crown above.

The cap is also unusual in that it has a pair of tails sewn on. Any thoughts please?

[Cribyn]

Hello High Wood

You might like to check out the MHS website, http://www.themilitaryhistoricalsociety.co.uk, as one of their Special Publications is on "Coloured Field Service Caps, Infantry", cost £2.00 + postage. It is still available I believe.

I don't have a copy myself, so I can't say how good it is, perhaps another member can comment on this aspect.

If I remember correctly, there was also a wartime publication that dealt with Field Service Caps and cap badges with coloured line drawings. I had a copy once but without the title page, so no help as to the actual title, sorry!

Regards
Roger

[Peter Brydon]

I only have a photocopy of Regimental Badges and Service Caps, but I do have actual copies of the MHS Special Number "Coloured Field Service Caps- Infantry " and "British Military Hats" by Margaret Nobbs, all worth having if your interest extends to this subject.

P.B.

[Phil2M]

I have the book in question, however, its in storage. I would help otherwise

[Peter Brydon]

I will look later to see if I can find the regiment but the tails are not some thing I recall seeing on coloured field service caps.

P.B.

[John Mulcahy]

Regimental Service caps and Badges by George Philip & sons is available in e-form as a free download. I can't recall what database it is on. If you cannot find it after searching IM me your contact details and I will send you a copy (it is too large a file to post here).

John

[High Wood]

Thank you; I have ordered a copy of the MHS booklet.

[JerryBB]

It is not shown in my copy of Regimental Badges and Service Caps.

[High Wood]

Very strange. It has general service buttons but there are no markings including date inside. As I said in an earlier post, it was once badged.

[didithevan]

Following this theme on headress, is there any sort of definitive guide to the various styles and colour of cord boss badges worn by the British Army. It is something I sort of fell into whilst looking at Gurkha badges and seems to be an area with little or no published references that I can find.
I know of the various rifles and light infantry but also that regiments such as Berks, Buffs, Warwicks at some time all had cord bosses.
Any clues?

[Peter Brydon]

didithevan,

The only source in respect of boss badges ( i.e dealing exclusively with this type of badge ) that I know of is a series of articles in the Crown Imperial magazine in March and June 1980 and June 1981 by Irvin L.Mortenson entitled " The Cord Boss as a Head dress Badge "

The articles mention and describe many different examples of cord bosses but cannot be said to deal with all examples of cord boss badges and only a few are actually illustrated.

P.B.

[didithevan]

Mm, sounds like a potential project for spare time in the future then........

[Luc]

Here is my example, the badge leaves a clear ghost mark and I believe it to be original to the cap.