Help To Identify - British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum

Cleeman · #1 17-12-15, 09:49 AM

3 badges for identification. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

altcar73 · #2 17-12-15, 10:30 AM

Your first badge almost certainly is a "Posts & Telegraphs" cap badge from one of the former British Colonies. I'm not able to identify which one. The second is from an Airline, can't recall which one.

Dave.

Cribyn · #3 17-12-15, 11:08 AM

Hello

Second badge is Imperial Airways I believe; they used a similar design on their buttons.

Roger

Cleeman · #4 17-12-15, 12:30 PM

Thanks guys. No wonder I can't find them in the usual sources, they are not military...!

Has anyone got any ideas on the third badge. Royal Engineers silver brooch? If so, what for?

BWEF · #5 17-12-15, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cleeman

Thanks guys. No wonder I can't find them in the usual sources, they are not military...!

Has anyone got any ideas on the third badge. Royal Engineers silver brooch? If so, what for?

Try googling the motto.

I would have done if I could read it all.

peter monahan · #6 17-12-15, 02:49 PM

Same here - couldn't read motto on third one.

Cleeman · #7 17-12-15, 03:03 PM

The motto reads "Quo Fas Et Gloria Ducunt". This features on Royal Artillery and I believe featured on Royal Engineers badges.

However, never seen this particular badge before. A bit large for a "sweetheart" at 52mm tall.

manchesters · #8 17-12-15, 03:15 PM

The letters in the centre certainly are RE, so its almost certainly of the Royal Engineers, but what I dont know, sorry.

Sonofacqms · #9 17-12-15, 04:07 PM

Has this badge which looks sandcast to me got two loops or the fixing for a brooch type pin?

Possibly a pagri badge for the Royal Engineers.

Rob

Sonofacqms · #10 17-12-15, 04:10 PM

After a second look, this badge which has got a loop at the top and an open loop below for the fixing for a brooch type pin, does look like a pagri badge for the Royal Engineers.

Rob

GTB · #11 17-12-15, 04:30 PM

My eyes may be playing tricks but I feel that the first badge is 'made-up'. Possibly a P&T employee decided to utilise a British cap badge (Crown & laurel leaves), remove the centre-piece and attempt to braze or otherwise attach the 'P&T' centre. However, the 'T' is adrift!
GTB

altcar73 · #12 17-12-15, 04:39 PM

The badge looks fine to me. I doubt that an employee would go to the time and effort to make his own cap badge. The "making up" of badges, particularly for small orders, was very common at one time. The manufacturers often utilised already existing dies and "cobbled" them together. I have several similar examples in my own collection.

Dave.

Postwarden · #13 18-12-15, 02:28 PM

I think the answer to the white metal RE badge may be found in the late Norman Litchfield's 2004 book on RA pagri badges.

The two attached extracts explain the background to these badges and illustrate an example similar to that show in the post for the RA. The extract also explains that as they were intended for wear on turbans most had a pin fitting which the fixings on your badge suggest. Sand cast for India also make sense.

Jon

Cleeman · #14 18-12-15, 04:35 PM

Hi Jon,

Thanks for that information. It pretty much sums up what the badge is and the era very nicely.

Thanks for taking the time to research it and for the excellent supporting documentation.

Cheers
Andy

Sonofacqms · #15 18-12-15, 07:04 PM

I think these were worn by mess servants.

Rob