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  #1  
Old 16-02-22, 02:36 PM
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Default Unusual Gurkha Engineers badge

I came across this Gurkha Engineers badge some time ago - I've shown it next to an officers silver cap badge for comparison in size and to show the differences in design. You can see its quite a bit larger than the normal badge but the design is also different being more elongated and with a larger grenade affixed between the blades. It's a finely cast badge - I was wondering whether it was an early prototype badge that was never adopted ?
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  #2  
Old 16-02-22, 04:47 PM
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Nice badge. I wonder if it was cast for the band to wear possibly ??
I would look nice in my collection.......
engr9266
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  #3  
Old 16-02-22, 05:25 PM
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Pretty sure they never had a band
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  #4  
Old 16-02-22, 06:26 PM
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Could it be related to the crossbelt ?
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  #5  
Old 16-02-22, 08:53 PM
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I don’t think so Mike - but happy to be corrected
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  #6  
Old 17-02-22, 04:31 PM
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Although they didn't have a band, they had their own pipers from when formed. I believe this is the first pattern Baldrick badge.
Would look nicer in mine Jerry

Steve
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  #7  
Old 17-02-22, 07:03 PM
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I think ive found it. Problem is i cant read the label. Says" 1953 Malayan ..........." .
Badge is on the Gurkha card from the Charles Thomas collection.
https://www.olympiaauctions.com/sale.../view-lot/169/
The baldrick badge is the same design but i think the example shown is smaller.
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  #8  
Old 17-02-22, 08:47 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike H View Post
I think ive found it. Problem is i cant read the label. Says" 1953 Malayan ..........." .
Badge is on the Gurkha card from the Charles Thomas collection.
https://www.olympiaauctions.com/sale.../view-lot/169/
The baldrick badge is the same design but i think the example shown is smaller.

That does seem to be the one, it looks to be a nice quality badge.

Jack
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  #9  
Old 17-02-22, 09:40 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jack8 View Post
That does seem to be the one, it looks to be a nice quality badge.

Jack
Can you read what the label says on the link says Jack ?
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  #10  
Old 17-02-22, 11:35 PM
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The other word is manufacturer.
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  #11  
Old 17-02-22, 11:38 PM
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Professor Charles Thomas had a very nice and expansive collection, however, some of his descriptions were a bit wayward so some caution is needed relying on them alone.

I’m minded of his rubbing of a rare ‘trial pattern Collingwood RND’ which was in fact a Melbourne Militia collar badge.
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  #12  
Old 18-02-22, 07:35 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike H View Post
I think ive found it. Problem is i cant read the label. Says" 1953 Malayan ..........." .
I read the date as 1955.

Quote:
The regiment became part of the Brigade of Gurkhas in September 1955 , and by Royal Warrant on 28th September 1955 its designation was changed to The Gurkha Engineers when its own cap badge and insignia was adopted.

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  #13  
Old 18-02-22, 10:53 AM
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Thanks everyone for their answers - I thought it might be of Malaysian manufacture. I thought I'd add some early Gurkha Engineer cloth items to the post. The two red cloth titles bearing the "unofficial" title Royal Engineers Gurkha date I think to the earliest cadres being formed in 1948 - the slip on title Gurkha RE was also an unofficial title used in 1954. They all predate the 1955 Gurkha Engineers becoming an established separate Corps within the brigade of Gurkhas.
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  #14  
Old 18-02-22, 11:10 AM
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Default gurkha

Just to confirm note on that badge reads ' 1955 Malayan manufacture '

Mark
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  #15  
Old 18-02-22, 08:19 PM
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Sort of related to this. I cant vouch for the validity of the statement.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/134028359...eafa%7Ciid%3A1
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