38th Battalion (Bendigo Regiment) officer hat badge

[slick_mick]

Hi Guys,

I came across this badge on a dealer's website:

It's described as a:

38th Battalion (Bendigo Regiment) officer hat badge - 1930 to 42

I'd like to hear everyone's comments on this badge.





A couple of observations...

a) Its flat backed with a maker's name which seems unusual as I would expect it to be a pressed badge.

b) It has a colour patch on the front it.

An association badge perhaps?

Mick

[Chrisr]

Mick,

The flat back with maker's mark doesn't concern me all that much. The 67th Bn - Bendigo Infantry of the 1912 - 1918 era was the same construction and design.

It looks to me as if it is a 67th Bn badge where the 67 has been cut out and replaced by the enamel colour patch at the bottom and the 38 added at the top of the laurel wreath. It is not the 38th Battalion 1930 -42 as that was titled The Bendigo Regiment rather than Bendigo Infantry and while it was a similar design as the 67th, the construction was different. Mine is oxidized and die-stamped with the 38 where the 67 was in the earlier badge.

I think it has been made up.

Cheers
Chris

[slick_mick]

Hi Chris,

I agree with you there - certainly looks made up and the back looks quite new. I would expect a 60+ year old badge to look old.

It also comes with a hefty price tag - AUD$750

Mick

[badgecollector]

hi mick
can you let us know which dealer has it?
i agree with crisr, the badge is an 1903-12 period officers with the 68 removed and a colour patch put in place and a 32nd added above. maybe a sweethearts type badge?? thats what it reminds me of.
BC

[slick_mick]

This is the website I found it on:

http://www.davewrightmilitaria.com.au/

Mick