Brain Teaser - Royal Engineers Volunteers

[Sonofacqms]

Andy,

The slider is the normal thickness and as I have said copper coloured, as to whether this badge is a fake based on a K&K mistake I am at a loss to say.

I have never seen another similar badge in the thirty years since I bought this one and from the responses from forum members so far I don't think they have seen another one either.

I would have thought that this forum must have some Royal Engineer specialists and I would be interested if they have ever encountered this badge or have any ideas on it.

I will not bin it as I have other badges in the past but put it under the questionable section.

Regards Rob

[2747andy]

Rob,
Please do not bin it just on my account, but compare the slider to other early GvR badges you may have in your collection and you'll see what I mean about the slider being on the thin side!

The "Doubel Tap" effect to the rear of the badge is also just a touch disconcerting!

Andy

[Rockape]

Rob,

I have one similar to yours with a slider small Gaunt, London font (11 mm). I bought it a few years ago and has been in my suspicious pile ever since.

Garry

[Sonofacqms]

Andy/Gary,

This badge will stay on my suspect board until further evidence comes to light, my pics are not the best I know, but it has caused a bit of speculation amongst forum members whilst highlighting K&K which may be wrong.

This is what makes badge collecting so interesting for me, some items you know are dead right and others fall into a grey area. As I do not visit my collection very often, I am sometimes at a loss to remember just what badges I have and what variations there are.

Many thanks to all for their input.

Regards Rob

[fougasse1940]

Description from Crown Imperial No. 111: Brass badge as 1 (is the regular GvR RE badge) but the scroll reads Royal Engineers Volunteers. This is either a fake badge or it was made for the VTC of the 1914-1918 period.

Rgds, Thomas.

[2747andy]

?????????????

[Sonofacqms]

This has muddied the waters even more, my badge is white metal as described in K&K, but thanks for the reply, the search goes on . . !

Rob

[fougasse1940]

The previous description was version No. 11, version No. 7 of the list of George V period 1910-1936 RE badges by F. Stevens is: Pattern as 1 but in whitemetal and with title scroll Royal Engineers (Volunteers). The possibility is that it was worn by Volunteer Training Corps personnel of an Engineer unit 1914-1918.

Rgds, Thomas.

[Peter Brydon]

Thomas,

How incredibly interesting, the attached is from the article "VTC Gazette Part 7 " by Ray Westlake in the MHS Bulletin of May 2014.

I also seem to recall that the badge of "The Birmingham Electrical Engineers Volunteers " on the rear cover of Rays "Royal Engineers ( Volunteers ) 1859-1908 " turned out to be a WW1 VTC badge ( or am I wrong ? )

P.B.

[Sonofacqms]

I think this area is very much unresearch, K&K have a lot of badges illustrated, but I am sure there must be many more.

I think many records were destroyed during the Blitz.

Rob

[Alan O]

In the case of VTCs there were often no records to destroy. There was a loose central control of the VTC as they were an 'association' with varying degrees of central control until 1916.

[Peter Brydon]

What a pity we seem to drive away so many members, I seem to think that at one time there were a couple of members with very good VTC collections, if they are still looking at the Forum, have they any information on the badge (s) worn by the Engineers who were part of the VTC ?

P.B.