The time it takes to change cap badges on a change of the Sovereign

[Praepositus]

AAAAN Welch.jpgThe Curator at the RMP Museum kindly shared the attached photograph of RMP members serving with what I believe to be members of 1st (British Corps) Provost Company (or 1st 'Brush' Company as it was fondly known) post-1952, as the Captain (and the Warrant Officer to his left) are wearing QC EIIR RMP cap badges, whilst the onlooking NCOs are all still wearing KC GVIR RMP cap badges. An indication perhaps of just how long it took/takes to get new badges issued after the change of the Sovereign. As it looks like the WO is wearing a silver officer's cap-badge, I would opine that this photo probably dates from around 1954 some two years after HM The Queen ascended the throne.

Enjoy,

Praepositus

[Tinto]

Good one, Praepositus.
It's photos like this that make valuable reference data in our badge collecting.
Cheers, Tinto

[Deejayuu]

Originally Posted by Praepositus

Attachment 49937The Curator at the RMP Museum kindly shared the attached photograph of RMP members serving with what I believe to be members of 1st (British Corps) Provost Company (or 1st 'Brush' Company as it was fondly known) post-1952, as the Captain (and the Warrant Officer to his left) are wearing QC EIIR RMP cap badges, whilst the onlooking NCOs are all still wearing KC GVIR RMP cap badges. An indication perhaps of just how long it took/takes to get new badges issued after the change of the Sovereign. As it looks like the WO is wearing a silver officer's cap-badge, I would opine that this photo probably dates from around 1954 some two years after HM The Queen ascended the throne.

Enjoy,

Praepositus

Some units were very quick off the mark to change crowns over, even swapped the crown before the monarch changed! Film entitled `I was monty`s double` (1959) in Monty`s caravan somewhere in England on the build up to D-Day. Inteligence officer with Queens crown cap badge! Very quick of him or just an oversight of the researcher?

[Praepositus]

Good point - I recall that the CMP NCOs sent to arrest Anthony Quayle's character van der Poel, in the closing scene of 'Ice-Cold in Alex', were wearing RMP badges!

[grey_green_acorn]

Originally Posted by Praepositus

Good point - I recall that the CMP NCOs sent to arrest Anthony Quayle's character van der Poel, in the closing scene of 'Ice-Cold in Alex', were wearing RMP badges!

There is also a Landrover in the scene outside the hotel in Alexandria! But it was filmed in 1958.

Tim

[David Moore]

I have my dad's RAF work beret and best peaked cap. The beret has a well worn King's crown badge and the peaked cap has a crisp Queen's crown badge. He left the RAF in 1968. I think that KK badges might of been permissable on work wear, although 16 years does seem a very long time?

[Peter Brydon]

John Gaylor in Chapter 1 of Military Badge Collecting refers to the fact that he was still wearing a k.c cap badge in 1966.

P.B.

[badjez]

According to Ordnance records, the QC Corps of Royal Military Police badge was introduced on 31.03.56. the same day as their new buttons.

Stephen.

[slick_mick]

I know of a current serving Australian Army officer who still wears a KC badge

Mick

[Alan O]

If you see my earlier thread about Major Edwards books you will see that he shows Q/C for new designs coming in in the early 50s but some older established designs being retained up to 1966-8.

[David Moore]

I wonder if there is a little kudos associated with wearing old badges; In the same way that old sweats might wear a moustache?

Just a theory Dave

[engr9266]

Back in the early 70's when I joined 38 Engr Regt in Ripon, North Yorks there was a Corporal who wore a KC Royal Engineer badge and we were told that was because he was a Kings Corporal.

[Phillip Herring]

I have seen members of the RCMP and the odd member of the militia wearing k/c cap badges.

Phil

[geezer#199]

Phil

Funny you should mention members of the RCMP and wearing of the KC badge. Being a retired member of the RCMP, when I first got in in 1972, there were still a lot of KC era members still in the force and wearing the KC cap badge. As time has progressed they are all retired.As the Commissioner changed, they would put out their picture to hang in the Detachments of the RCMP. As recent as Commissioner Zaccardelli, approx 6 years ago, in his photo he was wearing KC Collar badges.

I do not think, I am almost certain, that there are no members out there now that wear the KC Cap Badge on their Forge Cap, however, there are still a lot of members who wear the unilingual brass shoulder badge as their fathers wore them and were passed down, as well as the brass QC Cap Badge wore by their fathers. There are still a large number of members wearing the brass QC Cap Badge issued after she took the throne in 1952. I wore one until I retired in 2005. There have been about 7 variations of the QC Cap Badge since the first one in 1952 but none compare with the quality of the first one, IMO. I still wear the unilingual brass shoulder titles on my Red Serge at various regimental dinners with brass collar badges, 1952 issue, as well. I was issued unilingual shoulder badges when I was sworn in.

These dinners are usually patrolled by the Staff Sgt Major or Sgt Major, whose duties, among other things, are to search out members who are not wearing their uniform properly and fine them money, which is put into a good cause. There are still a lot of members out there, after 6 months of training, that can not remember how to wear their uniform properly.

Sometimes I get fined and sometimes not but it is all to a good cause so I come prepared to pay the piper so to speak. A Superintendant in the RCMP, who also retired in 2005, always wore KC Collar Bades and buttons on his Red Serge. He was a former drill Cpl in Depot in the late 1970's.

Jack

[wardog]

Something about having brasses to polish. As an RAF Police doghandler in the 1980's, when not working evenings /nights, I wore a polished GM QC RAF badge which are easy to get, with brass fittings on my plastic working belt and I even polished the chrome off the chain on my whistle
So easy to see why I still clean badges. Regards, Paul.