King's Own in w/m

[Alan O]

W/M with brass lugs. It is not RAC as they wore plated brass badges that were dipped by the regiment.

Could it be VB or TF?

[Volunteer Soldier]

Very interesting post Alan. I have a similar badge (not plated brass) but with a slider. My ancient eyes will not allow me to say with any confidence that it comes from the same die as your badge. I have always regarded it as a "wrong un" - slider and all that. Have you ever seen a genuine 1 or 2VB ?

[49lassiepen]

Alan posted mine in my album my wm is on a slider
Part general collection
David

[Luke H]

I bought this one some moons ago and am happy with it.

Yet to see an example with a 1st or 2nd Volunteer Battalion scroll I’d consider genuine.

[Volunteer Soldier]

Thank you Luke. I like the look of your badge. Mine is from a different die. Your badge reinforces my view that mine should go back to my rubbish tin. I think Alan0 has raised an interesting subject. I have catalogue photos of many years of Bosley auctions (not a complete run). Not a single picture of either 1 or 2VB. Neither have I seen a repro version of the two VB's. Curiouser and curiouser. Perhaps someone can throw some light on the subject - was the early all wm badge worn by the volunteers?

[cbuehler]

Did not the 5th Bn. wear this WM version? It is my understanding that they did into the WW2 era.

CB

[Alan O]

Originally Posted by Luke H

I bought this one some moons ago and am happy with it.

Yet to see an example with a 1st or 2nd Volunteer Battalion scroll I’d consider genuine.

So should I buy the one in my original post? What do you think?

Alan

[Luke H]

Originally Posted by Alan O

So should I buy the one in my original post? What do you think?

Alan

Yes I would. Am certain it’s fine and and my feelings are it’s an earlier rather than later badge.

[Volunteer Soldier]

Alan, No comment. I'm a coward when it comes to recommending badges, holidays and so many other things. If in doubt - don't. Many years ago we spent a camping holiday in Italy. Had a super time and recommended it to our near neighbour (CO 1 Kings). They had a dreadful time and his wife sent us to Coventry for a month !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Alan O]

A close up of the front. Like Lukes the die it came from has 8 'rib stripes' rather than the usual 6 or 7.

[Alan O]

Originally Posted by cbuehler

Did not the 5th Bn. wear this WM version? It is my understanding that they did into the WW2 era.

CB

I can't find any evidence to support this. It is not mentioned in any book or article that I have read. The King's Own museum shows w/m badges but not labelled as VB and as they have lugs they do suggest pre WW1. http://www.kingsownmuseum.com/mus03badcapwhitemetal.htm

They do attribute one cast w/m to an officer in the 5th Bn.
The only VB badge they have is one officers http://www.kingsownmuseum.com/mus03badcapvolunteer.htm and there is no certainty that there was an OR's version of this.

They show a chromed badge as worn by the RAC but as it has been pinned I suspect it was a conversion for wear on jacket lapel in civvies and the chroming may not be RAC.

[Luke H]

I’ve seen Wm The King’s Own collars ranging from what I believe to be early examples through to presumably post WW2 ones on with the single brass lug.

If a Wm cap badge was worn with these potentially there was more than one incarnation and period of wear for such a cap badge.

I’m minded the KOYLI adopted a Wm badge in the 1950s, perhaps The King’s Own did briefly too?

The below collars are clearly much, much earlier and I suspect similar age to the above cap badges.

[Alan O]

I don't think they did wear a w/m badge post Ww2 as the a.a. ones were back in gold with sliders.