HAC regiments RHA WW2

[3dg]

Hello all
I know the officers of the HAC RHA wore the KC bullion version of the RHA cypher cap badge in the 'cap GS'. What did the OR's have in there cap GS, was it the HAC gun badge or the WM RHA cypher badge?
Also, when did the HAC gun badge come about, and is it still in use today?

Thanks

[3dg]

Does anyone know any answers to my questions

[johnG]

Hi 3dg,
I have paged through references to uniform in 'The Honourable Artillery company' - a history of the HAC, and will take a closer look, but I don't think it is going to help answer your questions, so is is down to somebody else on the forum to provide the answers, which I too would like to read.
Regards,
John

[badjez]

I doubt whether the cypher was worn as my understanding is that it wasn't approved as a headdress badge until post-war. Somewhere on the forum 54Bty did an informative thread on RHA badges. The wearing of the large gun badge on FS was prohibited on 9th June 1941, although it was being phased out from 1939. During the war only mounted units of the RHA retained a 'peaked cap' and were therefore authorised to retain a large gun badge.

The HAC OR's had their own badge, which was the RA gun with UBIQUE replaced by HAC. I cannot see this having been an Ordnance issue item in the 1929 Catalogue of Clothing & Necessaries, but few TA badges were. It is listed in the first post-war list dated 1949. The entry for 1942 is relevent as it lists the badge as an Ordnance issue badge but after 'HAC RHA' is added 121st OCTU [Officer Cadet Training Unit].
My gut instinct is that the standard RA grenade collar badge was probably worn by field units due to their availability.

Whilst the following doesn't help your quest, I've added it just in case it is useful to other people. In August 1967 a draft WO paper circulated prior to decision being made as to which cap badge would be worn by HAC component of The Great London Regt, RA (T). The policy was for all units within a regiment to wear the same cap badge. This regiment requested an exception for the HAC be authorised to wear the cap badge of the regiment from which they were descended.
C Bty Honourable Artillery Company (RHA) [HAC Arty]
The HAC Infantry Company (T) [HAC Infantry]
R Bty (The Tower Hamlets) RA (T)
S Bty (City of London) RA (T)

01.11.67. Authority granted in WO Letter of this date.

Stephen.

[3dg]

Thanks for all of your posts, ill have to keep looking

[Keith Blakeman]

It's possible that they also wore the HAC version of the small grenade in their fs caps. This is has 'UBIQUE' replaced by HAC in the bottom scroll.