Buffs chrome badge

[denis pannett]

When did the Buffs use chrome badges like this one as it appears genuine?
Denis

[NORMANDIE18]

Hi,
The 141st Regiment RAC (7th Bn The Buff) have worn a chromed version of the cap badge.
Normandie18

[denis pannett]

Many thanks for your reply Normandie18. Would it then have been worn Nov 41 till end of WW2? Denis

[NORMANDIE18]

Originally Posted by denis pannett

Many thanks for your reply Normandie18. Would it then have been worn Nov 41 till end of WW2? Denis

You are right form 1941 to the end of WW2.
Another exemple : https://www.britishbadgeforum.com/fo...buffs+armoured
Normandie18

[Alan O]

The badge is genuine but I worry the chrome is not as the originals were nickel plated rather than chrome. Without provenance you will never know for certain .

[magpie]

Most don't the difference between chrome and nickel if you haven't worked or used them side by side so it could be nickel.

[denis pannett]

Many thanks all for your answers and very interesting reference to previous posts and that they were Crocodile Flamethrowers in Normandy. I think the badge could well be nickel and not chrome plated, I just said chrome without thinking of nickel but now think it is not shiny enough for chrome. I presume it is not that common a badge then despite looking rather scruffy - I was in two minds about buying it at £6. Denis

[Deejayuu]

There are a couple of good books worth reading. `Flamethrower` by Andrew Wilson is a work of fiction but based around a generic crocodile unit with much research done. From a first hand source it reflects events but does not cover the horror caused by these weapons, the trauma caused to the operators using them nor the actions of the enemy if they captured a crocodile crew member. Geoffrey served with 141 RAC during the thick of the fighting but sadly passed a few years ago.
The second book covers Hobarts Funnies, `The story of the 79th Armoured Division`, no author named but published in Hamburg in 1945.

[NORMANDIE18]

Originally Posted by Deejayuu

There are a couple of good books worth reading. `Flamethrower` by Andrew Wilson is a work of fiction but based around a generic crocodile unit with much research done. From a first hand source it reflects events but does not cover the horror caused by these weapons, the trauma caused to the operators using them nor the actions of the enemy if they captured a crocodile crew member. Geoffrey served with 141 RAC during the thick of the fighting but sadly passed a few years ago.
The second book covers Hobarts Funnies, `The story of the 79th Armoured Division`, no author named but published in Hamburg in 1945.

Well said very true.
A couple of IWM films of the 141 RAC training :
https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/i...ect/1060023983
https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/i...ect/1060023984
Normandie18

[denis pannett]

Thank you Normandie18 for link to those amazing IWM films of 141 Regt RAC which show what a horrifying weapon this was - what an impressive film library the IWM have! Many thanks also Deejayuu for the book recommendations which I will try to hunt down on Ebay. The scruffy little badge I nearly did not buy has turned out to be so much more interesting than I could ever have guessed thanks to all your replies. Denis