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  #1  
Old 30-05-20, 09:46 PM
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Fatherofthree Fatherofthree is offline
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Default Essex oddity

Greetings all.

The picture clearly shows an Officer of The Essex Regiment, sporting medal ribbons for a WW1 pair.

His helmet has a QVC plate.

Essex Officer.jpg


Picture obviously taken 20 or so years after QVC was replaced by KC.

I love a "Why was that then".

Regards.

Brian
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  #2  
Old 30-05-20, 10:02 PM
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He is like Captain America, a super soldier, frozen and then thawed out 25 years later to fight The Hun in 1914.
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Old 31-05-20, 12:12 AM
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There was apparently no absolute rule that badges with older crowns had to be replaced. Soldiers ( or officers in this case) that still had uniform items with the older crown could still be worn many years later, although twenty years is a bit surprising.
You can bet your bottom dollar (or Pound) that there were some men in the trenches still sporting QVC badges.
CB
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Last edited by cbuehler; 31-05-20 at 12:20 AM.
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Old 31-05-20, 02:40 AM
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This chap doesn't look old enough to have served for the 17-odd year gap in question!

I agree though stuff was retained or recycled, that would be my bet here.
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Old 31-05-20, 09:04 AM
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It would be privately bought or he may have inherited it or perhaps he just liked it.

In a similar vein the KOSB were in Episkopi garrison in 1996 and several officers took advantage of the Cypriot silversmith's talents to buy QVC silver KOSB bonnet badges!
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Old 31-05-20, 12:42 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Alan O View Post
It would be privately bought or he may have inherited it or perhaps he just liked it.

In a similar vein the KOSB were in Episkopi garrison in 1996 and several officers took advantage of the Cypriot silversmith's talents to buy QVC silver KOSB bonnet badges!

May well be inherited and worn for the portrait, knew plenty of Officers and Guardsmen who would chance their arm and wear a relatives Cap Star, Uniform item or sword for that special occasion away from the Sergeant Major's prying eyes!

Simon.
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Old 31-05-20, 12:49 PM
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Indeed, some regiments never updated their crown, i.e., the QO Corps of Guides in India and the QO Oxfordshire Hussars.

CB
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  #8  
Old 31-05-20, 04:31 PM
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I like the idea that he had his fathers helmet and sword! Regards Mark
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  #9  
Old 31-05-20, 05:27 PM
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Simply because he did not replace it with a new plate, if it actually belonged to him in the first place, which was not unusual, although, twenty years down the line, the helmet had been withdrawn in 1914 anyway, I should imagine he liked it.


Quote:
Originally Posted by Fatherofthree View Post
Greetings all.

The picture clearly shows an Officer of The Essex Regiment, sporting medal ribbons for a WW1 pair.

His helmet has a QVC plate.

Attachment 224818


Picture obviously taken 20 or so years after QVC was replaced by KC.

I love a "Why was that then".

Regards.

Brian
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  #10  
Old 31-05-20, 06:46 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hawthorn View Post
May well be inherited and worn for the portrait, knew plenty of Officers and Guardsmen who would chance their arm and wear a relatives Cap Star, Uniform item or sword for that special occasion away from the Sergeant Major's prying eyes!

Simon.
Simon there were blokes in the Grenadier's wearing King George V brass's on their buff belts whilst i was serving.
Andy
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  #11  
Old 31-05-20, 08:40 PM
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Andy,

Old kit was always about as you say, on a slightly different note I remember attending a Jungle Warfare Instructors course in Brunei in the mid 80's and being issued a pair of the old rubber jungle boots from the Malaya Emergency days! Made things to last in them days!

Simon.
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  #12  
Old 31-05-20, 09:03 PM
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Thanks for all the replies chaps.

Of course, any one of them could be the correct answer, more than likely something we'll never know.

However, I do like the idea of him wearing his father's helmet and carrying his sword.

Regards.

Brian
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