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  #1  
Old 14-05-21, 05:05 PM
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Default British Army anodised aluminium cap badges by M AZAM & SONS of Lahore, Pakis

Prompted by recent posts I am attempting to collate information on and pictures of British Army anodised aluminium cap badges produced by M AZAM & SONS of Lahore, Pakistan.

There are a number of threads and posts on the Forum going back to 2009 enquiring about these badges. Identification was not always conclusive, but I have included information and photos from some of the previous posts.

The AZAM badges are (usually) found in cast aluminium with a rich dark gold colour and grainy frontal finish. Some have sliders but most have two ‘tombstone’ shaped flat alloy lugs with drilled holes which only thin gauge wire cotter pins will fit.

The AZAM catalogues dating from the mid 1970s clearly indicate that “metalic or silver anodized gold cap badges can be supplied at reduced prices……' price per cap badge was from 30 pence!

Although made for collectors and obvious copies it also seems that badges were ordered by British Army units when MOD provision was not possible due to cost or small quantities required. This might particularly have been the case for Bands and Corps of Drums helmet badges and also regimental arm or belt buckle badges.

In his book “No Bull” Chris Marsh describes the badge construction and outlines the history of the AZAM company on page 151.

So far I have noted the following badges as probable AZAM products: (* = photo in album here https://www.britishbadgeforum.com/fo...p?albumid=4318)

Queen’s Own Highlanders (one part badge) *
Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (not too sure) *
Devon and Dorset Regiment (with slider) *
16th/5th Lancers (all silver KC) *
West Yorkshire Regiment (with J.R.GAUNT LONDON marked slider) *
Gloucestershire Regiment (cap and back badge) *
Seaforth Highlanders (5th Bn) *
Cameron Highlanders *
Liverpool Scottish *
Duke of Lancaster’s Own Yeomanry *
Royal Army Chaplain’s Department (shown in ‘No Bull’ page 193)
King’s Royal Rifle Corps (KC Black) *
Connaught Rangers *
8th King’s Royal Irish Hussars (QC) *
REME *


Also reported but no photo seen:

Lovat Scouts
King’s Own Scottish Borderers
Royal Munster Fusiliers

Grateful for comments and pictures of badges in member’s collections which I will add into my album for future reference.


Tim
Attached Images
File Type: jpg Azam.jpg (118.4 KB, 74 views)
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Last edited by grey_green_acorn; 14-05-21 at 05:10 PM.
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  #2  
Old 14-05-21, 05:14 PM
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I'm sure that Peter B unearthed something regarding Yeomanry arm badges made by Azzams . Apologies to you Peter if it wasnt you.
I recall it was the DLOY who requested NCOs arm badges and the MOD turned them down,so they went to Azzams. I'm sure it mentions other regiments too but none specifically.
I've seen anodised NCO arm badges to the Berkshire Yeomanry (silver horse on lugs) or is that Berks and Westminster Dragoons and the Worcestershire Hussars (pear leaves) or was that one worn by Warwick and Worcs .
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  #3  
Old 14-05-21, 05:43 PM
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I had.....and will see if I still have
East Surrey KC
R Warwick's
RMLI Helmet badge
Kings African Rifles KC
I must have had some others, my dad used to order them for me in the 70's
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  #4  
Old 14-05-21, 08:28 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike H View Post
I'm sure that Peter B unearthed something regarding Yeomanry arm badges made by Azzams . Apologies to you Peter if it wasnt you.
I recall it was the DLOY who requested NCOs arm badges and the MOD turned them down,so they went to Azzams. I'm sure it mentions other regiments too but none specifically.
I've seen anodised NCO arm badges to the Berkshire Yeomanry (silver horse on lugs) or is that Berks and Westminster Dragoons and the Worcestershire Hussars (pear leaves) or was that one worn by Warwick and Worcs .
Mike,
Thank you. This extract from Crown Imperial provides a little more information and mentions the DLOY cap badge in anodised with loops/lugs and an arm badge not in anodised.
The image of the Worcestershire pear blossom arm badge is in the album (courtesy of Bess).
There is evidence in the AZAM catalogue and also mentioned by PB that a helmet plate, although possibly not anodised, was made for the band of the King’s Regiment.


Tim
Attached Images
File Type: jpg 3E12F120-86EC-4C4F-A393-4774D9EE6637.jpg (93.5 KB, 31 views)
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  #5  
Old 15-05-21, 08:12 AM
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Tim,
I've found a couple more:-
Int Corps (similar to the West Yorks)
RAOC
C&D Yeo - horrendous

Also done a bit of research re the Gloucestershire belt plate AZAM badge. The lugs are exactly the same distance apart and location as the MOD issue - 1 inch. It fits on the belt plate fine. Clearly no accident.

Is it possible that a Gloucestershire unit ordered them for their belts from Azams?

Additionally, regarding the Warks & Worcs Yeo arm badge (pear blossom) - this is a rather random badge to 'copy'. Again, is it likely they were ordered by the unit in lieu of the issue item?

Whilst the Azam badges present as crude on the rear, they are frequently of 'acceptable' quality on the front.

Bess
Attached Images
File Type: jpg 20210515_080358.jpg (93.9 KB, 18 views)
File Type: jpg 20210515_080411.jpg (91.2 KB, 25 views)
File Type: jpg 20210515_081304.jpg (111.5 KB, 21 views)
File Type: jpg 20210515_081319.jpg (113.8 KB, 32 views)
File Type: jpg 20210514_111009.jpg (121.5 KB, 24 views)
File Type: jpg 20210514_111033.jpg (117.2 KB, 21 views)
File Type: jpg 20210515_083333.jpg (50.9 KB, 11 views)
File Type: jpg 20210515_083414.jpg (41.4 KB, 10 views)
File Type: jpg 20210515_083447.jpg (71.2 KB, 13 views)
File Type: jpg 20210515_083536.jpg (66.3 KB, 15 views)
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  #6  
Old 15-05-21, 11:42 AM
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Hi Gents,
Here's a few more for Tim's album.
Regards
Colin
Attached Images
File Type: jpg 001.jpg (75.1 KB, 7 views)
File Type: jpg 002.jpg (65.7 KB, 8 views)
File Type: jpg 003.jpg (86.4 KB, 9 views)
File Type: jpg 004.jpg (70.2 KB, 9 views)
File Type: jpg 005.jpg (56.6 KB, 10 views)
File Type: jpg 006.jpg (56.2 KB, 7 views)
File Type: jpg 007.jpg (82.1 KB, 11 views)
File Type: jpg 008.jpg (78.8 KB, 14 views)
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  #7  
Old 15-05-21, 06:01 PM
sapper533 sapper533 is offline
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Hi Folks
Here are mine, a few more than I remembered.

EAST SURREY KC
BLACK WATCH KC
GREEN HOWORDS
ROYAL LEICESTERSHIRE BERET SIZE
HERFORDSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY
ROYAL WARWICKSHIRES
NORFOLK YEOMANRY
Attached Images
File Type: jpg IMG_20210515_202802.jpg (62.3 KB, 4 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_20210515_202823.jpg (46.4 KB, 12 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_20210515_202842.jpg (61.7 KB, 6 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_20210515_202849.jpg (60.2 KB, 6 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_20210515_202952.jpg (39.9 KB, 3 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_20210515_203016.jpg (41.2 KB, 2 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_20210515_203027.jpg (59.4 KB, 3 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_20210515_203035.jpg (56.5 KB, 4 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_20210515_203044.jpg (50.7 KB, 4 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_20210515_203050.jpg (54.5 KB, 6 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_20210515_203105.jpg (55.5 KB, 2 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_20210515_203112.jpg (46.7 KB, 4 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_20210515_203120.jpg (42.5 KB, 2 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_20210515_203126.jpg (32.9 KB, 3 views)

Last edited by sapper533; 15-05-21 at 06:07 PM.
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  #8  
Old 15-05-21, 06:07 PM
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Some more

QUEEN'S REGIMENT QC
106 BOMBAY LIGHT INFANTRY QVC
KING'S AFRICAN RIFLES KC
ROYAL MARINE ARTILLERY HELMET BADGE QVC
29TH MIDDLESEX RIFLE VOLUNTEER CORPS
Attached Images
File Type: jpg IMG_20210515_203138.jpg (44.7 KB, 4 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_20210515_203144.jpg (51.5 KB, 4 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_20210515_203201.jpg (57.2 KB, 7 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_20210515_203207.jpg (61.9 KB, 4 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_20210515_203246.jpg (48.2 KB, 3 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_20210515_203251.jpg (56.4 KB, 1 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_20210515_203301.jpg (47.4 KB, 4 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_20210515_203308.jpg (58.6 KB, 1 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_20210515_204715.jpg (30.4 KB, 4 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_20210515_204719.jpg (38.8 KB, 2 views)
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  #9  
Old 17-05-21, 01:37 PM
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Thanks to all for the additional badge images, British Army badges have been added to the album:

https://www.britishbadgeforum.com/fo...p?albumid=4318

A new album for Commonwealth badges produced by AZAM has been added here:

https://www.britishbadgeforum.com/fo...p?albumid=4320


Tim
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"Manui dat cognitio vires - Knowledge gives strength to the arm"
"Better to know it but not need it than to need it and not know it!"
"Have more than thou showest, speak less than thou knowest."

Last edited by grey_green_acorn; 17-05-21 at 01:55 PM.
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  #10  
Old 17-05-21, 02:02 PM
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The list of known British Army badges now includes: (* = photo in album here https://www.britishbadgeforum.com/fo...p?albumid=4318)

Royal Regiment of Fusiliers KC *
Royal Marine Artillery helmet badge *
Royal Army Ordnance Corps QC *
Royal Warwickshire Regiment *
Queen's Regiment *
Norfolk Yeomanry *
Lovat Scouts *
Leicestershire Regiment beret size *
Intelligence Corps J.R.GAUNT LONDON marked slider*
Herefordshire Light Infantry *
Green Howards *
East Surrey Regiment KC *
Caernavon & Denbigh Yeomanry *
Black Watch *
29th Middlesex Rifle Volunteer Corps *
7th Bn Hampshire Regiment *

Tim
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"Manui dat cognitio vires - Knowledge gives strength to the arm"
"Better to know it but not need it than to need it and not know it!"
"Have more than thou showest, speak less than thou knowest."

Last edited by grey_green_acorn; 17-05-21 at 07:25 PM.
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  #11  
Old 17-05-21, 03:29 PM
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Here is an image of an Azam cap-badge to The Leinsters.

Not sure exactly what is this Royal Marines (RM Fusiliers? RM Band?) Azam cap-badge?

Third image is an Azam to 16 The Queen's Lancers. Looks like it has someone's fingerprints on the reverse? Maybe this could be useful in tracing the badge's history!

Best regards

William
Attached Images
File Type: jpg Leinsters, reverse.jpg (88.2 KB, 7 views)
File Type: jpg Leinsters.jpg (55.6 KB, 7 views)
File Type: jpg Marines - wi Grenade, reverse.jpg (65.3 KB, 9 views)
File Type: jpg Marines - wi Grenade.jpg (48.6 KB, 13 views)
File Type: jpg 16 Lancers - KC, reverse.jpg (46.6 KB, 14 views)
File Type: jpg 16 Lancers - KC.jpg (52.6 KB, 14 views)

Last edited by William; 17-05-21 at 03:40 PM.
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  #12  
Old 17-05-21, 03:55 PM
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William,
Thank you. I have the 16/5 Lancers image in the album from an earlier Forum post from you I think. I will add the Leinsters and Royal Marines Engineers.

Tim
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  #13  
Old 17-05-21, 04:01 PM
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Royal Marines Engineers? Thanks for the education, Tim!

16/5 Lancers? Or just 16 Lancers?

Attached fotos show 21 Lancers - just noticed this one is also an Azam.

Cheers!
Attached Images
File Type: jpg 21L - KC, Reverse.jpg (65.8 KB, 13 views)
File Type: jpg 21L - KC.jpg (67.0 KB, 14 views)
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  #14  
Old 17-05-21, 04:19 PM
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William,
With 'THE' in the scroll does that not make it 16th/5th ?

Thanks for the 21st Lancers

Tim
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  #15  
Old 17-05-21, 04:21 PM
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I'm weirdly finding that some of them are so ugly they have an appeal all of their own!
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