Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry

[loupie1961]

I've recently bought a 1944 date RAC beret badged to the RWY. The badge has got a red cloth backing. On wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Wiltshire_Yeomanry
I've found that "The cap badge of the RWY is the Prince of Wales's feathers is a slightly different design to other regiments wearing the same symbol, such as the Royal Regiment of Wales. It is worn on the brown beret with a red baize and a black baize backing." First, I guess that being an armoured regiment, the RWY wore and wears a BLACK beret, but I'd like to know the meaning of the red backing... any hints?

[sean michael cronin]

Finally after 20 odd years one I'm happy with, no creases or folds in the stamping of the plumes and a nice sweat hole.Couldn't find this one at time of posting apart from being new, nasty fold as shown at arrow and no sweat hole.

[Alan O]

These are my 2. The lugged one raises the question of was it originally a collar badge?

The Gaunt London Ltd one would date to the 1970s and at that time the regiment was issued with a/a. This style of feathers can be seen on earlier officers badges and seems to have been adopted for ORs badges at a later date.

I have read the Wiltshire yeomanry's history but all too often the early photos of the ORs badges are indistinct.


Alan

[Mike H]

Possibly is Alan,the scroll appears to be similar to a Royal Hussars or KRH no1 dress collar badge.But it could have been issued as something else,to a regiment with a similar style of badge.

[davidwyke]

I know POW plume badges feature quite regularly on the forum and it's often difficult to positively ID them, but I thought I would give this one a try - bi-metal, 2 lugs (N/S), one oblong brazing hole.

I'm inclined to think it's a Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry cap badge. It's identical to the one shown in Wilkinson's Cavalry & Yeomanry 1914 book, which is also lugged.

Having said that, it could also be a collar badge from one of a few cavalry regts: 3DG or 10H, or possibly a first pattern 12L.

Does the N/S alignment of the lugs make it more likely to be a cap badge? Most similar examples I've seen have had E/W lugs.

Any comments/opinions much appreciated.

David

[Rockape]

Hi David,

You are quite correct in your assumptions regarding this type of POW plume badge. Take your pick from the list. If you want a definite post 1908 Wilts Yeo cap badge, look out for this shape with a slider.

Garry

[davidwyke]

Hi Garry

Thanks for that, it confirms what I suspected. The badge came with a few other Yeomanry cap badges so I think I'll keep that label on it!

David

[pedro alfonso]

Hello!

I have doubts about the badge backing of The Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry in the beret while one Squadron was in The Royal Yeomanry and another in The Royal Wessex Yeomanry during the 1980 decade.

Also, the backing of The Royal Hussars, whose badge was very similar to The RWY.

Thanks for the info.

Regards

Pedro

[GriffMJ]

"A" Squadron (RWY) Royal Yeomanry wore a blue beret with a scarlet tombstone badge backing (if my memory serves me well)

"B" Squadron (RWY) Wessex Yeomanry wore the beret of the Royal Hussars with a black badge backing. I think this started in the late 1980s during the command of an RH Colonel.

[REME245]

A Squadron certainly correct when I joined in about 1991.

A Green Cravat if the correct phraseology was also used for some years prior to me joining.

[Car_Commander]

Griff,

I don't recall ever seeing B Squadron with a black badge backing. I am fairly certain that they wore a scarlet tombstone, the same as we did in A Squadron.

Les.

A (RWY) Squadron, RY 1991 - 2002

[GriffMJ]

It was a looooong time ago Les Memory has faded....

This is how I remember it..... but there is a scarlet cloth backing to the badge...... on the black square...... on the cow pat.

[Cleeman]

Hi,
I am totally confused about the lineage of the Wilts Yeomanry cap badges. Can someone please confirm what badges are from what era. I have read up on their history and change of service in WW1 (Cyclists & Infantry) but cannot fathom out what badges were worn when.

K&K has 1303 as Imperial Yeomanry but officers felt-hat badge only. Yet on the forum, examples of OR's and Slouch Hat badges appear to exist.

K&K 1407 is the version I have in my collection but apparently a bronze version exists as well (not OSD). K&K Vol.2 shows this as 2283, sealed 1916 and the way it reads was in use until 1948. I thought the Bimetal one was in use in WW2. When was this worn, it is not even mentioned in Gaylor or Wilkinsons?

Should K&K 1407 Bimetal badge be on lugs or a slider, or is it available on both?

Thank you for any advice or help on this matter.

[GriffMJ]

Cleeman

The Wilts Yeomanry wore a white metal POWFs in the Other Ranks. During the Great War they started with brass then wore a Bronzed Brass POWFs in the latter stages (WD Tenders for DHY & PWORWY on the same list). Post War it was back to the white metal. It was not until the 1950s that they started to wear the Bi-Metal.

In the 2nd Boer War the standard IY rosette was worn in RWY sponsored companies..... the Officers may have worn just the white metal or silver POWFs in their caps. The Wilts Yeo had a zig zag type pattern around their Pith Helmets I seem to remember.... not unlike the Scots Greys.

I have attached a pic of SSM Stanley J Cope. PWORWY, on getting married in July 1918. You can clearly see he is wearing a bronzed brass cap badge.

I have attached a Trooper from the early Great War period with probably a brass POWFs in his cap.

I have attached some pre 1914 uniform so you can see the white metal badge.... same in the cap & collar.

[Cleeman]

GriffMJ

Wow, thank you for such a fast and informative reply. The pics are an excellent reference as well. Now I know what to look out for.

Thanks again
Andy