British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum

Recent Books by Forum Members

   

Go Back   British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum > Common Forums > It's a Mystery -Unknown Insignia for Identification

 Other Pages: Galleries, Links etc.
Glossary  Books by Forum Members     Canadian Pre 1914    CEF    CEF Badge Inscriptions   Canadian post 1920     Canadian post 1953     British Cavalry Badges     Makers' Marks    Pipers' Badges  Canadian Cloth Titles  Books  SEARCH
 
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 05-05-12, 12:07 PM
grey_green_acorn's Avatar
grey_green_acorn grey_green_acorn is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Kent, UK
Posts: 5,820
Default The Wessex Regiment (Volunteers)

Help please to positively identify and date these items believed to have been worn by 1st Battalion the Wessex Regiment (Rifle Volunteers) and 2nd Battalion the Wessex Regiment between 1971 and 1994. Made in Gold Anodised, Silver Anodised and "bright metals".

1. "Standard" Gold Anodised Cap Badge, Collar Badges and Buttons - 1st and 2nd Bns?
2. Silver Anodised Collar Badges (Gold on right for comparison) - SNCOs or?
3. WESSEX Shoulder Title in bright metal with Black paint background - 1st Bn?
4. White metal Collar Badges with 2 lugs - Officers or SNCOs?
5. Rear of above
6. Plated "bright" White metal Collar Badges with 2 lugs - Officers or SNCOs?
7. Rear of above

Tim
Attached Images
File Type: jpg DSCF0846.jpg (50.0 KB, 67 views)
File Type: jpg DSCF0878.jpg (43.1 KB, 51 views)
File Type: jpg DSCF0879.jpg (39.0 KB, 32 views)
File Type: jpg DSCF0876.jpg (39.2 KB, 35 views)
File Type: jpg DSCF0877.jpg (42.5 KB, 31 views)
File Type: jpg DSCF0880.jpg (53.5 KB, 40 views)
File Type: jpg DSCF0881.jpg (49.0 KB, 30 views)
__________________
"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."
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 05-05-12, 01:26 PM
crest-insignia's Avatar
crest-insignia crest-insignia is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: On a rock in the solent.
Posts: 555
Default

Tim
The third one, the Wessex title, I never saw this item in use during my 2 stints with the Wyverns, but, there is a photo in Martin Lee-Brownes book '1 Wessex' of two officers wearing them with shirt sleeve order.

Cross referencing the Officers, with the ORBAT suggests between 1976-1981.

Toby
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 05-05-12, 02:44 PM
grey_green_acorn's Avatar
grey_green_acorn grey_green_acorn is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Kent, UK
Posts: 5,820
Default

Toby,

Thanks, I understand that there is also a WESSEX shoulder title with a blue background for the 2nd Battalion.

Tim
__________________
"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."
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 05-05-12, 05:16 PM
49lassiepen 49lassiepen is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: South Wales
Posts: 2,149
Default wessex

Hi know you are a knowledgeable collector can not help with dates but will find out[ B.R expert on wessex]I have 3 frames of Wessex items .Have 1 & 2 wessex same insignia except for rank slides 1 blue 2 green ,waist belt clasps and stable belts Have photos of farewell parade 1 wessex 17/9/1995 and 2 wessex -can't find booklet Also obtained items from R.H.Q of both battalion after disbandment no difference Have wessex with the blue background .Helmet plates are the same the last issue being shiny have this on blue cloth helmet
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 05-05-12, 05:37 PM
49lassiepen 49lassiepen is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: South Wales
Posts: 2,149
Default WESSEX

O'R cap badges gold slides-firmin,and gaunt London
O'R cap badge silver-gaunt Birmingham
OFFICERS cap s/p gaunt London & H.M.S
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 05-05-12, 06:16 PM
grey_green_acorn's Avatar
grey_green_acorn grey_green_acorn is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Kent, UK
Posts: 5,820
Default

49lassiepen, thank you.
The WESSEX title is in Westlake "Collecting Military Shoulder Titles" as number 1469 with the blackened background. Supplement No 1 has a reference to the 2nd Bn having a blue background.

Tim
__________________
"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; 06-05-12 at 06:03 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 06-05-12, 06:02 PM
grey_green_acorn's Avatar
grey_green_acorn grey_green_acorn is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Kent, UK
Posts: 5,820
Default

The gold? anodised Wyvern collar badges are now worn by Exeter University Officer Training Corps. Exeter UOTC wore the Wyvern gold anodised cap badge from 1980 - 1982 when an OTC cap badge was introduced.

Tim
__________________
"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."
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 06-05-12, 06:56 PM
ORISKANY ORISKANY is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Just off THE PLAIN
Posts: 513
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by grey_green_acorn View Post
Help please to positively identify and date these items believed to have been worn by 1st Battalion the Wessex Regiment (Rifle Volunteers) and 2nd Battalion the Wessex Regiment between 1971 and 1994. Made in Gold Anodised, Silver Anodised and "bright metals".

1. "Standard" Gold Anodised Cap Badge, Collar Badges and Buttons - 1st and 2nd Bns?
2. Silver Anodised Collar Badges (Gold on right for comparison) - SNCOs or?
3. WESSEX Shoulder Title in bright metal with Black paint background - 1st Bn?
4. White metal Collar Badges with 2 lugs - Officers or SNCOs?
5. Rear of above
6. Plated "bright" White metal Collar Badges with 2 lugs - Officers or SNCOs?
7. Rear of above

Tim
Tim, have a look at The Wessex Military Band website, a civilian band. The band adopted the insignia of The Wessex Regiment. Perhaps they have commissioned badges which could be slightly different to the official WESSEX Bde/WESSEX Regt. Just a thought!

As far as I am aware, both Battalions only ever had Regular Army Regimental Sergeant Majors who, along with all other officers wore the silver badges. Officers and the RSM all wore silver wire embroidered badges on their berets.

WOs Class 2; the highest TA non commissioned rank in 1st Battalion The Wessex Regiment (Rifle Volunteers), would have worn the issued gold coloured anodised badges. Unless anybody knows different, then I stand to be corrected.

1 WESSEX administered two TA bands:

The Hampshire and Dorset Band (TA) and The Devon Band of the Wessex Volunteers. WO1 Bandmasters would have worn the same badges as the Regimental Sergeant Major.



Oriskany

Last edited by ORISKANY; 07-05-12 at 08:39 AM. Reason: Revised wording in para 3 and details of Bands.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 06-05-12, 10:58 PM
bess55's Avatar
bess55 bess55 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 1,814
Default

My anodised versions of this badge are:-

GOLD - Gaunt B.Ham, Gaunt London and Firmin London.

SILVER - Gaunt London and Gaunt B.Ham.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 07-05-12, 07:47 PM
49lassiepen 49lassiepen is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: South Wales
Posts: 2,149
Default

Tim just found photo sgt 1 wessex [final parade] he's wearing white anodised/metal collars badges difficult to say which Corps of drums silver collars not sure what type,
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 08-05-12, 12:50 PM
Mike H's Avatar
Mike H Mike H is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,694
Default

Don't forget that the golden wyvern badge was also worn by the wessex yeomanry
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 09-05-12, 09:23 PM
grey_green_acorn's Avatar
grey_green_acorn grey_green_acorn is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Kent, UK
Posts: 5,820
Default

Thank you everyone for your contributions.

Tim
__________________
"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."
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 12-05-12, 10:56 AM
grey_green_acorn's Avatar
grey_green_acorn grey_green_acorn is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Kent, UK
Posts: 5,820
Default

Just found this picture taken at The Keep Dorchester. Shows a few more items and a blue cloth rank slide.

Tim
Attached Images
File Type: jpg Wessex Regt D&D Museum.jpg (43.3 KB, 90 views)
__________________
"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; 15-05-12 at 01:42 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 13-01-20, 04:23 PM
grey_green_acorn's Avatar
grey_green_acorn grey_green_acorn is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Kent, UK
Posts: 5,820
Default BEEWYSE LONDON maker marked WESSEX cap badge

Connecting to my thread on the mystery BEEWYSE LONDON maker marked gold anodised WESSEX cap badge.

https://www.britishbadgeforum.com/fo...ghlight=Wessex

Tim
__________________
"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; 14-01-20 at 04:35 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 14-01-20, 04:14 PM
crest-insignia's Avatar
crest-insignia crest-insignia is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: On a rock in the solent.
Posts: 555
Default

Tim
Herewith the most desired [IMHO] of all Wessex badges.

Taken off of my unit sweat shirt, which seems to have inexplicably shrunk over the years!
T
Attached Images
File Type: jpg 01.jpg (107.9 KB, 38 views)
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

mhs link

All times are GMT. The time now is 01:46 PM.


Powered by: vBulletin
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.