Cap Badge Securing Clips

[hagwalther]

Hi Guys,

First of all I though that the following taken from:

Materiel Regulations for the Army, Volume 3, Clothing, Pamphlet No. 15, Badges Embellishments and Head Dress by the Ministry of Defence and dated 1980.

refered to lugs.

However reading closer it seems to refer to a slider.

403. Cap badges may be lost because they are incorrectly fitted. The beret is provided with a leather pocket to house the single vertical shank of the badge. Securing clips for retaining the cap badge in the beret with a single hook shank are available on demand.

Does anyone know what these securing clips were? I can't ever remeber seeing or using them.

Regards

Chris

[davec2]

Hi Chris,

Yes, I know what you are referring to, it is a small brass plate with two horizontal slots a few mm apart, it is then pushed up onto the slider.

I'm not sure quite how it worked, I thought the beret badge had lugs ?? on a cap however, the slider was pushed through a slit and the brass plate would then be pushed on and hold it.

I have only had one on a single occasion and it came with a R.A.S.C. badge, hope this helps.

Dave.

[Mike]

this type thing?

[Alan O]

These brass ones were introduced in WW2. I have never seen a modern one.

Alan

[Faugh-A-Ballagh]

I had a small rectangular one with a slot half way accross it and an indentation for the slider to rest in. Measures about 5mm x 10 mm. I never saw them as being much use. If I haven't dumped it inadvertantly, I'll post a picture. I would never have imagined anyone showing an interest, but this forum has shown me lots of things. Will try and dig it out later.

John

[Alan O]

John,

KLR has been after one of those for ages.

Alan

[grey_green_acorn]

Originally Posted by Faugh-A-Ballagh

I had a small rectangular one with a slot half way accross it and an indentation for the slider to rest in. Measures about 5mm x 10 mm. I never saw them as being much use. If I haven't dumped it inadvertantly, I'll post a picture. I would never have imagined anyone showing an interest, but this forum has shown me lots of things. Will try and dig it out later.

John

I have several of both versions. I will try to post a picture of the rectangular one tonight.
GGA

[Sonofacqms]

I think the securing clips when introduced during WWII were meant to be sewn inside the cap/beret, holding the badge in place as well as securing it.

[hagwalther]

Hi Guys,

Just got up - excellent reponse!

I would be interested in all photos as this part (which I've never heard of until I went through some documentation a forum member kindly sent me) which is part of the ancillary items associated with anodised aluminium cap badges. As such, I need to include it into my chapter 14 (of currently 31) Other Badge Components.

If anyone has spares and wishes to sell and knows that the particular item was as per issue for A/A then please contact me.

Many Thanks!!!

Regards

Chris

[grey_green_acorn]

Here are two different examples of the double oval type.

Rectangular types to follow (when I find them!)

[hagwalther]

Originally Posted by Mike

this type thing?

Pretty impressive Mike.

Regards

Chris

[hagwalther]

Originally Posted by grey_green_acorn

Here are two different examples of the double oval type.

Rectangular types to follow (when I find them!)

Would you say that these were used on A/A badge?

Reagrds

Chris

[grey_green_acorn]

I would think the double oval type might have been used with anodised badges in the early period (1950s - c1962) before berets were issued with the sewn in leather pocket for the slider/shank to fit inside. The problem is that the wearer would have an additional piece of metal ready to impale his forehead! This could have been followed by the rectangular type which is smaller as mentioned in Materiel Regulations which fits at the top "shoulder" of the slider. However, I wonder if many were ever issued? Properly fitted as well as securing the badge the clip provides support behind the crown where the slider is attached. Soldiers have improvised all kinds of backing material for their beret badges over the years. Pieces cut from stiff polythene liners from ammunition boxes being popular, sometimes covered with black masking tape. I was briefly in the RTR with a badge that had two lugs and a split pin and certainly needed the treatment!

[hagwalther]

Originally Posted by grey_green_acorn

Here are two different examples of the double oval type.

Rectangular types to follow (when I find them!)

Thanks Mate,

Any maker marks or other markings?

Regards

Chris

[AAC_GPR]

Originally Posted by grey_green_acorn

Soldiers have improvised all kinds of backing material for their beret badges over the years

They sure have GGA, I've seen all sorts of junk used to secure badges on WWII berets - small bits of wood cut from thin sheet was popular.

Kev C