Do not drive past a military collectables shop !!! EVER !!

[Fatboy Ken]

I was driving along in Southampton today, ....... with Theresa by my side, and we spotted as little old shop on the side of the road, military colectables in a sign outside, so we stopped.

We went inside and had a look around, might as well, I had nothing to loose.

Whilst I was looking I spotted a shiney badge behind the guy in the shop, up on the wall, ..... "How much is that badge mate" ? I said, "Hmmmmm" he said, ......... when he told me, I nearly pissed myself. lol

So here is that very badge to show you, .......

Is it me or am I just lucky ?

I've thrown in a couple of others to make it more interesting, all RCT related

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[Mike_2817]

Nice find mate

[Old Smelly]

'Do not drive past a military collectables shop'

It's impossible...I'm sure it's been proved scientifically by boffins!

Nice badge
Lee

[49lassiepen]

Hi posted photo of the badge on the shako-near mint example in gallery and albums part R.C.T collection Car boot purchase in Cardiff £18.00 Regards David

[Pylon1357]

I have no idea what the deal in regards to the posted badge, however I must say... it sure is Pretty.

These badges are way outside my area of interested but again... dang it is pretty.

And NO, don't ever, never, never, under any circumstances drive past a militaria shop. I rarely ever pass an antiques shop for that matter.

[RACT]

Mate got one f those , now just trying to get the Shako for it.

Regards Bob

[Fatboy Ken]

Hiya Bob,


They don't come up that often, but are out there, ..... good luck

Ensure you look closely at any Shako Hat you buy, some I've seen are rather tattered looking, hence the reason it takes so long to find a decent one.

When it comes along, it'll most probably come with another Shako badge attached .....

The RCT Band was reduced to 22 members by the time the Corps was disbanded in 1993, from the 60 that was at the formation parade in 1965.

Good Shako's are not that easy to find

Ken (The Fatboy)

[REMEVMBEA1]

The dates above the badge confuse me a bit , I was attached to 20 Company RASC in late 1963 to early 1964 and the changeover to 20 Squadron RCT took place while I was there. Is this simply that the band changed badges after the rest of the corps?

[Fatboy Ken]

Hiya REMEVMBEA1,

The Staff Band of the Royal Corps of Transport was formed and played on the 15th July 1965 and the main parade took place on “W” Square, Buller Bks, Aldershot, Hampshire, the RHQ of the late RASC and “new” forming Corps, the RCT.

This was one of many parades held throughout the world on the disbandment of the RASC and the formation of the RCT.

Ken (The Fatboy)

[kingsley]

Maybe we have just solved a mystery. Have often wondered what this high quality Australian AASC badge might be. It is quite heavy, nicely enamelled, and has clutch pins on back. Maybe it originally had a star shaped backing?

[Fatboy Ken]

Hello Kingsley,

How strange ?? I have one as well only this one is to the RACT (Royal Australian Corps of Transport)

Here are a couple of images for you ....... as you can see it is rather large compared to the normal sized cap & collars and it is a very heavy (Bronzed type) construction, but it's not enamelled.

FBK

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[Fatboy Ken]

2747 Andy;

The actual badge I found in the shop is pictured at the top of this thread

FBK

[Fatboy Ken]

What a "Silly Billy" !!!

Here is the RCT Shako Hat Andy

RCT Staff Bands Shako Hat#.jpg

[REMEVMBEA1]

I once called in a house clearance shop in Bristol and got a blue , double buckled, snake belt with about 12 WW! badges on it for the princely sum of £2.

[leigh kitchen]

The RCT Staff Band may have been formed in 1965, but I don't think they adopted the shako until 1974?

Just done an interweb search - mentions 1974 for introduction of the shako here:
http://www.collections.co.uk/postcar...ages/m065.html

Also mentioned in the book "Wait For The Wagon":https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=...0shako&f=false