GVR Blackened Royal Engineers

[Rob Miller]

I bought this Smith & Wright RE Badge on E bay last week, I really like the way it has been shaped for a cap. But it appears to be blackened, was that common with other ranks Royal Engineers badges? Rob.

[fougasse1940]

what I found is GvR RE OR's badges with bronze finish, this was for OR’s in France because of the shine of the badge attracting a bullet. No longer needed after steel helmets were issued (late 1915).

Rgds,
Thomas.

[Phil2M]

Hi,

Very nice!

Regards

Phil

[LONGSHANKS]

I have two 1914-18 badges that show the blacking, for what I believe is the reason given above; less liklley to have your "hair parted"..... The Gloucestershire has more left that the East lancashire.

I like the note on the pre-helmets day's. I might add that to their descriptions.

Simon.

[Rob Miller]

Thats very interesting, is the Smith & Wright mm correct for early WW1? and would a "Bronzed" finish be from the factory or applied in the Trench's?

Regards Rob.

[iaindh]

Originally Posted by LONGSHANKS

I have two 1914-18 badges that show the blacking, for what I believe is the reason given above; less liklley to have your "hair parted"..... The Gloucestershire has more left that the East lancashire.

I like the note on the pre-helmets day's. I might add that to their descriptions.

Simon.

Hi Simon,
I have a Gloster blackened brass similar to your's and in theory its a Gloster 5th TF Batt but, like yours, has a flaw between and under the E & the G. Mine like yours is nicely shaped for a cap but I'm told its a copy made with a faulty die. Mine's been in my possession at least 25 years. There is a thread on this.

Iain

[LONGSHANKS]

Well, sorry to tell those who told you yours was a fake are wrong. Mine came direct from a trophy belt see picture's attached. So from me my friend, I would keep yours as a 1914-18 example.

Simon.

[2747andy]

Originally Posted by LONGSHANKS

I have two 1914-18 badges that show the blacking, for what I believe is the reason given above; less liklley to have your "hair parted"..... The Gloucestershire has more left that the East lancashire.

I like the note on the pre-helmets day's. I might add that to their descriptions.

Simon.

Simon,
your E.Lancs is not 100% certain to be from WW1 era, it is more likely to be from post 1931. You need one with the slider fitted behind the sphinx to be 100% sure that you have a True WW1 example!

http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...hp?albumid=413

Best regards

Andy

[iaindh]

Originally Posted by LONGSHANKS

Well, sorry to tell those who told you yours was a fake are wrong. Mine came direct from a trophy belt see picture's attached. So from me my friend, I would keep yours as a 1914-18 example.

Simon.

Hi Simon,
apparently there is a dealer who still makes fakes/restrikes with this faulty Gloster die, but there is nothing to say that the die didn't come from the WWI period, after all the poor guys were being slaughtered faster than they could make badges and thus quality wouldn't count for much.
I am actually quite happy that mine is a genuine period 14-18 badge, you only have to look at it.
(sorry if your thread has been hijacked slightly Rob!)

regards,

Iain

[LONGSHANKS]

Hi Iain, no problem. My threads tend to do this and it makes them all the more interesting to read. So don't worry on the Gloucestershire, legit in my view.

Andy you may or may not be be right on the East Lanc's, but what would be the reason to black it in peace time. Unless I look up where they were in the 30's and see if they were in some of our small colonial war's. I mean this pattern isn't a TF one.

Simon.

[Rob Miller]

Originally Posted by iaindh

(sorry if your thread has been hijacked slightly Rob!)

regards,

Iain

Thats alright Iain, and there's always a chance it might return to its original subject.

Rob.