General Service badge cWW1? - British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum

GriffMJ · #1 01-10-10, 04:22 PM

Hi All

I picked this badge up today...... its 2 inches by 2inches. I think its a General Service Badge cWW1? It had a bit of verdigree in it so I have cleaned it up revealing that lovley honey yellow

Its a good crisp stamping with a nice weight to it.

Alan O · #2 01-10-10, 04:48 PM

Yes ORs GS badge also worn by VTC and Labour Corps.

#3 01-10-10, 05:00 PM

Nice badge, Griff - funnily enough I also picked one up today:

General.jpg General (1).jpg

GriffMJ · #4 01-10-10, 05:44 PM

Two different makers I think Peter?

#5 01-10-10, 06:02 PM

I'd agree Griff - though mine looks a fair bit darker in the photo than in the flesh. My first picture is closer to it's actual colour.

Check out those sliders too.

#6 01-10-10, 06:39 PM

Just noticed this little difference too:

Close-up.JPG

GriffMJ · #7 09-10-10, 09:48 AM

David Smith has a QVC version of my badge on his website and he has it as
"Home Counties Reserve Regiment".

Donny B. · #8 11-10-11, 06:13 AM

I found this thread while looking for information and comments that may have been pertinent to to a couple of my badges. I hope it is alright to resurrect it and tack my post to the end of it.

I wanted to ask about a similar badge and it kind of makes sense to keep them together for comparison. I have noticed, though, that the picture which I imagine went with GriffMJ's initial post seems to have disappeared but there is still one of Peter J's lovely find..

My first badge is a General Service badge, fairly large.....about 4.5cm x 4.5cm. It has the FIRMIN LONDON mark at the back which I think is correct. Unlike the other badges shown it has tabs and seems to have a lot more fretwork to it.

Do the tabs make it ODS?

Is the extra voiding because it has tabs or is it just a maker variation?

I gather that these badges were worn by groups that did not have badges of their own. Which groups, for instance, might have worn them besides the VTC (?) and Labour Corps mentioned by Alan O?

The other badge is a smaller plastic version of the same badge. It has the A. STANLEY & SONS WALSALL mark on the reverse. Am I correct in presuming that this is a WW11 plastic economy version of my first badge and that it has tabs because all the plastic badges had tabs?

Thankyou for any responses.

Donny B.

Alan O · #9 11-10-11, 07:03 AM

The top one is indeeed an OSD. It could be General List ie officers that were not assigned to a particular regt or Corps as well as the WW1 Pioneer Corps or WW1 VTC as they all wore the same design.

The bottom one is the WW2 plastic GS cap badge. They are also found in 'silver' grey plastic but are very rare in that colour. This design only came with tabs. The few plastic designs that had sliders included the APTC, RA Gun and the Q/C KRRC.

Alan

Donny B. · #10 11-10-11, 08:06 AM

Thanks Alan!

Did you make anything of the extra voiding?

Is it just a pattern variation or does it perhaps relate to a particular period or type?

Donny B.

Alan O · #11 11-10-11, 08:53 AM

It is just a maker's variation.

Peter Brydon · #12 11-10-11, 10:17 AM

Attached is a picture ( not sure how clear it will be ) but it is a unit believed to be VTC taken outside the Drill Hall in Manchester Road,Southport.

Cap badges are mainly a mixture of Kings Liverpools and General Service ( although a few other badges might be seen.

Note the age of some of the men.

P.B.

Donny B. · #13 11-10-11, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan O

It is just a maker's variation.

Thanks Alan!

Great photo, 8thfoot'

You must have bloody good eyes to see what those badges are.

Donny B.

Peter Brydon · #14 11-10-11, 11:01 AM

Donny,
This might be a bit clearer.

P.B.

Peter Brydon · #15 11-10-11, 12:08 PM

I had forgotten that the picture is actually captioned "The Warrant and Non Commissioned Officers,3rd Vol,Batt,Kings Liverpool Regiment " and so is after the VTC became Volunteer battalions of the Line Infantry regiments in July 1918 and adopted the badges of the regiments which they then formed part of ( the exceptions were the City and County of London ).

It appears that whilst some members have managed to obtain the badge of the Kings Liverpool Regiment,others are still wearing the General Service cap badge worn, according to K and K ,from April 1916 in bronze for officers and in gilding metal for other ranks.

The C.O. is wearing the T.D. or V.D. .If it is the V.D. which seems likely then he must have served in the old Volunteers pre 1908.

P.B.