British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum

Recent Books by Forum Members

   

Go Back   British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum > British Military Insignia > Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force

 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 17-02-17, 04:43 AM
zorgon's Avatar
zorgon zorgon is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Canada
Posts: 219
Default WWI or WWII cap badge?

This one has me stumped so perhaps the Forum can offer opinions. We have an unusual cap badge crown but it's on a band with rank bars suggesting a 1918 RAF issue. I know nothing about cap bands; can it be dated from these photos to WWI or WWII? I also note the central red jewel in the Crown.
Any idea who manufactured the cap badge?? Possibly of Canadian manufacture?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg cap badge and band.jpg (52.1 KB, 96 views)
File Type: jpg badge back.jpg (61.7 KB, 56 views)
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 17-02-17, 04:43 PM
David Tremain's Avatar
David Tremain David Tremain is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Ottawa, Canada
Posts: 1,903
Default

The white band indicates an officer cadet, but I've never seen the 'rank bands' before.

David
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 17-02-17, 05:34 PM
blueboy684 blueboy684 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 90
Default It's late WWI

The rank bars were worn very briefly during the Spring of 1918 lust after the formation of the RAF, so this is of WWI vintage. A very nice example and at the risk of getting shot down in flames I would suggest it is British made due to the period when it was worn.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 18-02-17, 04:33 PM
Frank Kelley's Avatar
Frank Kelley Frank Kelley is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 7,562
Default

Rank Bands?

Quote:
Originally Posted by David Tremain View Post
The white band indicates an officer cadet, but I've never seen the 'rank bands' before.

David
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 18-02-17, 05:04 PM
zorgon's Avatar
zorgon zorgon is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Canada
Posts: 219
Default

For a short period of time in 1918, the rank bars were worn on the caps for ranks 2nd Lieutenant, Lieut. and Captain as a result of AMWO 617/18 and Air Force Memorandum 2. The bars on my example could indicate that but I'm not sure if the style of cap badge crown dates to 1918. It would be great to see any other cap badge that matches the example in the initial post.
Th band rank bars have been discussed in an earlier post in the Forum: http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...highlight=1918

Regards

Last edited by zorgon; 18-02-17 at 05:14 PM. Reason: added detail
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 18-02-17, 05:18 PM
David Tremain's Avatar
David Tremain David Tremain is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Ottawa, Canada
Posts: 1,903
Default

All right then, rank bars, if you're going to be picky.

David
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 18-02-17, 05:34 PM
servicepub's Avatar
servicepub servicepub is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Ottawa, Canada
Posts: 879
Default

Outside of my expertise. There are some very knowledgeable Air Force collectors on this Facebook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/2246528180/
Clive
__________________
Those who live by the sword will be shot by those of us who have progressed.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 18-02-17, 11:00 PM
zorgon's Avatar
zorgon zorgon is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Canada
Posts: 219
Default

I'll add a couple of pictures related to this topic. The first is of Walter G. Preston, an Australian Lt. who served with the AIF, RFC and RAF. The portrait shows one bar but there would presumably have been another on the opposite side of the cap badge. Walter transferred to the RFC in 1916 and became a pilot, being awarded a DFC for night bombing; flying 3 missions in one night, with a total of 70 missions plus additional reconnaissance flights. The photo is submitted with the permission and courtesy of Mark Parker, a family relative.

The 2nd is an image of a full cap with what appears to be an identical style cap badge. The image, with the publishers approval, is taken from Fuss and Fashion by Clive Law but dates the cap to WWII.

The mystery continues...
Attached Images
File Type: jpg Walter G Preston, via Mark Parker.jpg (49.1 KB, 33 views)
File Type: jpg khaki cap, Fuss & Fashion, servicepub.com, p156.jpg (71.4 KB, 40 views)
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 19-02-17, 03:49 PM
Postwarden's Avatar
Postwarden Postwarden is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: The Garden of England
Posts: 3,232
Default

A photo of the badges being worn.

Jon
Attached Images
File Type: jpg RAF Officer 1918 rank 2 JM.jpg (43.2 KB, 36 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 09:48 AM.


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