Black Beret with RTR Badge and Hackle, 1944 Dated

[leigh kitchen]

Picked up during the early 1980's when there were a fair number of unworn 1944 dated RTR/RAC black berets on the market.
This came from a junk shop, the badge and hackle already on it.
I'd be just about prepared to believe that a squaddie back in '44 may have simply stuck the badge on the beret utilising the ready made vent holes rather than go to the trouble of sticking a couple of holes in the thing himself but of course the beret hasn't been worn much if at all, the hackle isn't likely to have simply been wedged behind the badge with its wire fitting visible through the badge, and the beret isn't likely to have been issued as early as it is dated, 1944.
I feel such sloppiness of wear in terms of the positioning of the badge would be more likely to be noticed and less likely to be tolerated after the business of fighting WWII was over.
I don't know when the "flat" hackle would've been introduced for wear by OR's or if indeed it was worn on the "basic" beret rather than the wide banded "set up" dress berets or bandsmen's gold braid trimmed berets.

The beret is manufacturer marked "Beret Industries Ltd".
It is of RTR/RAC design (not Royal Navy) and doesn't have a WD Inspector's mark.

Possibly worn by an old ex-soldier who wasn't inclined to observe the nicities re. insignia siting and fitting?
Whatever, I've kept the items as I found them and they'll stay that way, I don't make holes in headgear and add badges and other ornamentation.
It's presumably just an old unused beret with the badge and hackle as add-ons.

[leigh kitchen]

It would appear that the Other Rank's King's Crown RTR badge was worn up until 1960, when the St Edward's Crown version was introduced, the anodised aluminium badge At Edward's Crown badge was introduced in 1962.

I don't know when the "flat hackle" was introduced.