Royal Tank Corps-Retreating Tank?

[Frank Kelley]

Gentlemen,

Any thoughts on current values of other ranks in both metals?

Is £100 a fair offer for one of these at this point in time?

[Alan O]

If its genuine then that is what a dealer will ask. They may forget to mention that the RTR band wore it for some years after 1924 as I believe that they retained caps rather than berets. The copies are very good indeed so beware.

[Frank Kelley]

Thanks Alan,
No these are the real thing from a good collection, not really my sort of thing, but, you only buy originals once, I've only ever bothered with the Tank Corps for the Great War, but, after watching Mark Urban's "Tankies!" I now want to do some RTR too.
Many thanks again and kind regards,
Frank Kelley

[Alan O]

A lugged 1924. Polish to front but reverse is perfectly struck.

[Alan O]

Originally Posted by Frank Kelley

A thought, anyone?
Is £100 a fair offer for one of these at this point in time?

https://www.regimentalbadges.com/en-...4#.WaVz0bMUl9A

£95

Alternatively;

http://www.britisharmybadges.com/shop.php

£75 for w/m one and £125 for the band's peaked cap brass one with a long slider.

[Alan O]

A summary of OR's TC/RTC badges from the website linked to below:

Jan 1918 - 1st pattern Tank Corps badge (tank facing right) in brass with slider for wear on khaki cap.
1924 - 2nd pattern Royal Tank Corps badge (tank facing right) in brass with slider for wear on khaki cap. Officers adopt a silver version for wear on the beret which was approved for wear in Mar 1924.
May 1925 - 3rd pattern Royal Tank Corps badge (tank facing left) in w/m (presumably with lugs) issued to ORs for wear on beret. Band continue to wear the brass 2nd pattern.

For some reason lugged badges are later converted to sliders - presumably they were originally made for wear on the beret and then converted post 1924 for wear on the peaked cap by band or has been suggested depot staff?

The article also mentions the bi-metal full dress cap badge that has been discussed in the past.

From the RTR website:

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The Tanks Corps

This title became effective on 28 July 1917 but a new badge was not approved by the Sovereign until 11 September 1917. Actual issues were not made to other ranks until January 1918. Some badges were on sale at military outfitters earlier as letters of complaint in the War Office file (WO 32/3493 - held in the PRO) show. The request for a motto with the badge was refused on the grounds that such distinctions were only awarded to long established Corps for particularly meritorious service. After the War in 1922 Brigadier Elles, the Colonel Commandant, managed to get a new badge approved together with a motto "Fear Naught". Other suggested mottoes had been discarded - "dreadnought" and "Push on". The new badge and the motto were published in the December 1922 Army List but the Army Order authorising their actual wear was not issued until May 1923 (177/23). The badges were in the same metals as the MGC badges.


The Royal Tanks Corps

The wearing of the new badge by officers was almost coincident with the granting of the "Royal" pre-fix. There appear to have been no issues for other ranks until 1924. The first badges were worn in the peaked khaki service dress hat. They were made in bronze for the officers and gilding metal (brass) for the men. The tank faced in the same direction as on the Tank Corps badge. In late 1924 officers started to wear the beret (when not on parade with troops) and to their general horror it was found that the tank, now in silver, appeared to be retreating over the left ear. As officers bought their own badges the matter was soon put right for them by reversing the direction of the tank. It took a great deal of argument by the Colonel Commandant to get the other ranks badge changed by the time of the general introduction of the beret in May 1925. The men's badge was now white metal but the Band continued to wear the brass badge (with the tank retreating) and brass collar badges until after World War 2. With the introduction of a full dress for officers in the late 1920's came special cap and collar badges with the tank in silver and the rest of the badge in gilt. The collar badges were also worn in mess dress. A hackle of horsehair in the Regimental Colours, green to the right, was worn behind the cap badge in full dress by both officers and the Band.

[Markus Bodeux]

May i add this one to this older thread ?
I guess it is a genuine 1924/25 badge with the tank facing to right, may be identical to the badge shown by Alan O in #19.
The front has been polished or a little bit worn of and the rear show some corrosion. I think the copper content in the white metal is oxidized by moisture, rain or sweat.

Kind regards
Markus

[arrestingu]

Thought you may like to see my full size 1924 Officers example . ( J&Co )
cheers steve