Belt buckle

[phaethon]

Hi again,

Could some of you educate me and tell me more about the belt buckle below? Like I understand it was used by cadets or some school, is that correct?

[Toby Purcell]

The badge shown in the centre of this very unusual clasp is that adopted for the infantry boys battalion after WW2 (with King’s crown) and then subsequently a range of Junior Infantry battalions (such as Oswestry and Shorncliffe to mention just two) from the 1960s to 1980s with Queen Elizabeth crown. Some infantry administrative divisions also had Junior Soldier (i.e. boys) companies based at their depots and the thistle decoration on the clasp ends suggests that this clasp might be for a junior soldier drum major (or similar) at the Scottish (infantry) Division Depot, Bridge of Don. However, I have never seen one like it before and rectangular belt plates are more usual.

[leigh kitchen]

Belt locket for a lady?

[grenadierguardsman]

Whats the motto ?
Andy

[phaethon]

Extra photos

[Toby Purcell]

Originally Posted by leigh kitchen

Belt locket for a lady?

There were belt clasps for ladies at the turn of the 20thC Leigh as you might recall, but they were in filigree (rather like a nurse’s clasp) with collar or similar badges superimposed. The clasp does look feminine I agree, but what the Thistle and Junior Infantry badge is doing on it seems obscure. Was there ever a Junior WRAC element? I don’t recall one.

[leigh kitchen]

I was thinking more of an "officer's lady" wearing it.
I have an idea that I've seen similar for sale on eBay but with a different units badge on it.

I've spent some time searching eBay for the item I mentioned but with no result.

[Toby Purcell]

Originally Posted by leigh kitchen

I was thinking more of an "officer's lady" wearing it.
I have an idea that I've seen similar for sale on eBay but with a different units badge on it.

Yes, I understood you. I’ve not seen the type of locket clasp here, but the filigree type were a distinct and widespread ‘fashion’ amongst officers’ ladies at the turn of the century and are a subject of specialist collectors in themselves. They are mentioned by Leila B Ryan in her seminal booklet on officer’s waist belt clasps. I enclose one with RA badge but there were many others, always with filigree backing.

[leigh kitchen]

Time to fall back on - fashion item?

[Toby Purcell]

Originally Posted by leigh kitchen

Time to fall back on - fashion item?

The time when it was fashion predates the Junior Infantry badge by a huge margin, and why the distinctly Scottish thistle ends that are similar to Irish Regimental equivalents from the common 1855 military clasp? Too many coincidences to be fashion I think, and fashionable would imply many more of them.

[leigh kitchen]

I'm thinking of more recent fashion or toy, say 1970's onwards.

[Toby Purcell]

Originally Posted by leigh kitchen

I'm thinking of more recent fashion or toy, say 1970's onwards.

It certainly has a nasty cast metal come pewterish look to it, but the badge and thistles still seem significant for a toy or whimsical belt.

[leigh kitchen]

I don't know, there are some very strange items out there............

[Toby Purcell]

Originally Posted by leigh kitchen

I don't know, there are some very strange items out there............

Ha! How very apposite! I recall seeing a similar badge utilised in the TV series ‘Soldier, Soldier’ (the pre-amalgamation version from memory).

[leigh kitchen]

An "RRF" style anod. al. grenade with an apllied central device of I think it was POW's plumes within a wreath or similar sold on eBay a little while ago - a "Soldier, Soldier" item?

The "Ice Station Sonneti" RWF style badge is one of at least three badge designs used by the Sonneti clothing manufacturer (and currently being offered by the optimistically uninformed or dishonest for good money as "genuine").

https://www.britishbadgeforum.com/fo...d.php?p=457633

http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...ad.php?t=91198