No 3 Section Skilled Railway Employees - British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum

MarkMcM · #1 06-08-16, 01:42 PM

Hello All,

As regards these badges (cap and collar), does anyone know if officers badges were white metal/silver??

Bill A · #2 06-08-16, 04:07 PM

Mark, it is reported that the officers' badges were made with a silver overlay. (But, I haven't seen an actual example.)

MarkMcM · #3 06-08-16, 04:32 PM

cap...

MarkMcM · #4 06-08-16, 04:33 PM

collar...

MarkMcM · #5 06-08-16, 04:34 PM

collar reverse... (Gaunt tag)

Bill A · #6 06-08-16, 04:47 PM

Mark, I can't tell from the image, is the cap silver or brass?

Bill A · #7 06-08-16, 04:49 PM

(Thanks for showing these rare badges. I think Larrry Will would like to get images for the new CEF book project.)

MarkMcM · #8 06-08-16, 04:53 PM

Hi Bill,

Silver, but it's quite dark. I'll provide better pics as soon as the badges are in hand.

Bill A · #9 06-08-16, 05:00 PM

Is it plated or sterling Mark?

MarkMcM · #10 06-08-16, 05:09 PM

It's not marked 'sterling', so I assume plate.

GregN · #11 06-08-16, 08:57 PM

I have a bi-metal collar badge by Gaunt. It's flat backed. I do not trust any badge that's plated silver. I've never seen another collar like mine but I assume that if the collar was bi-metal, there must be a hat badge to match.

I'm not a specialist on CEF railway stuff, but I believe that unit existed for a very short period of time so most were recycled or not worn. My collar came with a set of ORs Skilled Railway Construction collar badges and a complete set of uniform buttons. My thinking being that the collar was worn as a cap and the no other changes were made. This is just my thinking. I've added a link to the badge in question in my album.

http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...ictureid=21514

Greg

8Hussar · #12 07-08-16, 06:51 PM

Here is my officer's cap badge, silver on bronze. Maker marked JR GAUNT LONDON.
As an aside, does anyone know why the name of these units was Skilled Railway Employees? I understand that it describes their duties but employee is such a non military term that it seems odd.

Bill A · #13 07-08-16, 07:34 PM

Thanks Gary. No 3 Skilled Railway Employees was formed from No 69 Wagon Erecting Coy. With the unit being overseas the badges were procured in the UK and should all be Gaunt badges.

MarkMcM · #14 08-08-16, 08:07 PM

Update:

Badges arrived today. As luck would have it, they are in fact - brass. Original pics suggested otherwise and seller's description of 'silver metal' notwithstanding. Oh well, chalk one up for colorblindness! Even still, I'm not at all disappointed as they are exceptionally nice. Hopefully this pic will better represent the actual appearance...

MarkMcM · #15 08-08-16, 08:08 PM

Both with Gaunt tags...