Unusual Queen's Royal Hussars badge

[Stafford Knot]

Saw an interesting example of an unusual wire embroidered Queen's Royal Hussars (QRH) badge on a well know internet site recently.
It purported to be an Officers' wire embroidered beret badge but was on a red backing rather than on dark green as would be expected. Other than that it was identical to the officer's beret badge illustrated on page 30 (item 8) of Robin Hodges' British Army Badges, ie. it had the crown, harp and cypher and without the title banner underneath.
I know that Officers in QRH wear the unique green and gold-trimmed 'tent hat' carried on from one of their antecedent QRIH regiment. But could this red-backed version of the officers' beret badge be for a red side hat or an alternative to the officers' red forage cap maybe? Anyone able to shed light on this?

[Alan O]

sounds like a makers' error to me. The QRH have never to my knowledge worn anything else than green berets or tent caps. As these are privately made it could well be made up to sell commercially rather than worn by the regt.

[49lassiepen]

If you look in my album I think the 1 you mean is top right I believe this was a proto type
David

[Robthereiver]

Originally Posted by 49lassiepen

If you look in my album I think the 1 you mean is top right I believe this was a proto type
David

Hello David

I think you are quite right, from memory this was the 1st pattern if you like, I don't think they were worn in service as the 2nd pattern/current blue backed one replace it almost immediately upon amalgamation. However, I have had one or two of these over the years and they had been used, so maybe?

Rob

[Stafford Knot]

Alan/David/Rob

Thanks. The badge is exactly that shown in David's album. Given the red backing my guess is that it was a prototype for the wire embroidered forage cap version in the middle of David's album slide that was eventually used. The one on sale looked used.

Peter

[grey_green_acorn]

Like this one as the prototype?

Tim

[grey_green_acorn]

This one as the in service version?

Tim

[grey_green_acorn]

and this one ?

[49lassiepen]

All as my album
David

[Stafford Knot]

Tim
Your first picture (prototype) matches the one I was looking at (and in Dave's album) exactly. Your 3rd picture also matches the beret version (on dark green) that I have. The 2nd picture with the QRH spelled out on the blue banner (?Scarlet Forage Cap) I have only seen in a couple of reference books and never for sale ( I would like one!).
Robin Hodges' book (and JSP768) says that a 4 part silver/gilt/enamel metal version is worn by Officers' on their forage caps, although I know there is a tendency for cavalry and yeomanry regiments to prefer wire embroidered cap badges.

Peter

[Robthereiver]

Hello Tim et all

Had a sort out this week and located some old notes (2005) relating to this QRH Officers 'Prototype' Cap Badge.
According to my sources, it was not a 'prototype', that is to say it had been approved and 200 had been manufactured prior to amalgamation. Some had already been put on to Forage caps by Officers, hence the used ones in circulation, but at the last minute just prior to the amalgamation they were withdrawn, and replaced by the current blue backed badge.

It never ceases to amaze me regarding amalgamations, despite the substantial lead in period, often basic things such as badges are not sorted out?!
The latest classic example that I know of is The Royal Lancers who have still not received their issue cap badges (Ops! 'Motto' sorry Mac), which incidentally is no fault of the regiment, but apparently down to MOD procurement?!?

Cheers
Rob

[mac mcconnell]

You are for given Rob.............OR GLORY

Mac