A question about the best shot of the Battalion Badge

[Jibba Jabba]

May I be the first to post to this section of the forum.

My question is.........if the badge with the crossed rifles with one star above is the Best Combined Shot of Cpl’s, L/Cpl’s & Privates in Regiment according to (Bosleys and according to the recent book published on trade/qualification/prize badges) why are these plain as day NCO's wearing the badge?

Am I to assume that one retains the badge on the dress uniform for as long as one serves in the regiment regardless of rank promotions?

Thank you for reading all help is very much appreciated.

[Mike]

To be "Best Combined Shot among Cpl’s, L/Cpl’s & Privates in a Regiment or Battalion" it has to be in a bay leaf wreath I recon. - if its post 1901

The badge shown could be "Best shot in Squadron, company or band"


The "best shot of Sgts and L/Sgts of a Regiment or Battalion" had a crown over and was in a wreath as well


thats my interpretation of Edwards and Langley's book anyway (p36, 37, 38)

having said that descriptons and badges changed over time and it's all about as clear as mud to me, but I'm working on it.

[Jibba Jabba]

Hi Mike,

Thanks for the reply mate.

I think you might be spot on with best shot of the company badge (minus wreath), probably why these guys are senior NCO's. It wouldnt look very impressive for all the regiments privates to have all the prize badges

[54Bty]

Rifles Crossed, Star above.

For the best shot in a Squadron, Company or Band. Clothing regulations of 1898 no reference to the quailification.
Volunteer Regulations of 1899, award it to 'The Best Marksman in the Company' (no mention of rank).
Clothing Regulations of 1909 'For the best shot in each squadron, company or band of cavalry, Royal Engineers or Infantry'.

Rifles Crossed, Crown above.

For the best shot of a Regiment or Battalion.

The way I read it is; if you are a Sgt and the best marksman in the Company then it is a star, if you are a Sgt and the Best shot in the Regiment or Battalion then it would be the crown.

[Diehard]

Hi Lads,

I found this little gem of info whilst looking for something completely unrelated and thought it might help.

The crossed rifles signify either skill at arms (marksman) 2nd or 3rd place (a white worsted badge for 3rd, gold for 2nd). For 1st place this would be a gold embroidered badge crossed rifles with a crown above !

As for the star this is a distance judging star.

Found this in Badges & insignia of the British Armed Forces pg 184.

Hope this helps

Will.

[Jibba Jabba]

Ive heard of the range finding star as well. Targets would be set up at different distances and all the soldiers had to do was accurately guess how far away the target is to set the range on the rifles. If you were accurate you were awarded the badge. Some old chap told me that forgot who it was.

[Bwetdude]

Would this badge be like the one your talking about (minus the star and wreath)

Or a WW1 or WW2 proficiency badge?

Thanks.

[Diehard]

From the description in the book I, this would be the second place badge.

Cloth badges aren't my thing, so I couldn't give you a date on your particular badge.

It also says the skill began around 1860.

[Diehard]

Taken from Badges & Insignia of the British Armed Services by May,Carman & Tanner (1974)

[Toby Purcell]

Originally Posted by Bwetdude

Would this badge be like the one your talking about (minus the star and wreath)

Or a WW1 or WW2 proficiency badge?

Thanks.

This is still worn as a Marksman's Badge on No 1 Dress and is found in Gold on Blue and Silver on Green. The pattern is unchanged. There have been no other embellishments such as an added star or crown for many years.

[Toby Purcell]

Originally Posted by Bwetdude

Would this badge be like the one your talking about (minus the star and wreath)

Or a WW1 or WW2 proficiency badge?

Thanks.

This is still worn as a Marksman's Badge on No 1 Dress and is found in Gold on Blue and Silver on Dark (Rifle)Green. The pattern is unchanged. There have been no other embellishments such as an added star or crown for many years.

[Marcus H]

Originally Posted by Toby Purcell

This is still worn as a Marksman's Badge on No 1 Dress and is found in Gold on Blue and Silver on Dark (Rifle)Green. The pattern is unchanged. There have been no other embellishments such as an added star or crown for many years.

Hi Toby,


I don't know if this warrants inclusion, but there is the Army 100 of course.



Kr

Marcus

[Toby Purcell]

Indeed there is but it is a plain thread coloured woven badge (not gilt or silver wire) and I have not yet seen one worn on No 1 Dress (blues), although I believe it is worn on both No 8 and No 2 Dress.

[Mike H]

Theres also the metal rifle badge worn on a chain(gold coloured) worn in No1`s by the 1st battalion Grenadier Guards.
With reference to the Army 100 badge,there is a TA 50 badge which carries the same significance as the 100 badge does in the regular army.
Images of the Grenadier Guards badge and the TA 50 badge can be found in the Regiment magazine.Issues Grenadier Guards and the London Regiment.

[grumpy]

This badge, variously in gold wire on fine cloth, worsted for Service dress, and never officially in gilding metal, has a varied history.

My first sighting is in the RACD ledger 1895, described for 'best marksman', in CR 1898 it is described, and refers to Musketry Regs, which define it for best shot in company etc. It first was in PVCN in 1907, made in drab worsted for SD. CR 1909 has it for best shot in company or equivalent. It is unchanged in PVCN 1911 and 1913, and also in CR 1914. It is missing in PVCN 1920, but is in CR 1922 unchanged, also in CR 1926 but as best combined shot rifle and LMG in Coy, also PVCN 1926.

Throughout this period it was never issued in gilding metal.

I can probe further forward easily if the demand is there.