the yorkshire regiment

[Saddle tree maker]

Must we assume that all brass badges that were worn in white-metal before and after the war, are suspicious.
I read recently that the Border regiment had an economy issue, which was recalled and chromed for use after the war.
Is it possible that along with the labour saving issue, some smaller companies did find it difficult getting hold of nickel and this is were the story comes from, though in the main it was to save labour.
Are there exceptions, and if so, which badges are they, and why ?
STM.

[Alan O]

It is quite possible that sub-contractors may have made badges in the wrong metals but I can find no evidence that this was an official policy.

A Border regt badge exists in plated brass but there is no evidence to the fact that it was a plated 1916 era economy badge. This 'post-war withdrawl' story is just speculation and makes no economic sense at a time when vast amounts of military equipment was being sold off. I would suggest that these badges are a sub-contractors error or a commercially made product. I would add that you can also find Beds and Herts Bn badges made in the same way and there is no way that these are WW1 economy badges as the design was post war.

Unfortunately the vast amounts of fakes and repros have now clouded the issue quite badly. For example I have seen examples of all of the Scottish infantry badges made in brass and sold in a Colchester tailors. They were certainly not 1916 era badges but could decieve the unwary.

Alan

[Saddle tree maker]

Alan,
Your last point is, of course, a very good one and should always be considered when discussing any badge variation.
STM.