British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum

Recent Books by Forum Members

   

Go Back   British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum > British Military Insignia > General Topics.

 Other Pages: Galleries, Links etc.
Glossary  Books by Forum Members     Canadian Pre 1914    CEF    CEF Badge Inscriptions   Canadian post 1920     Canadian post 1953     British Cavalry Badges     Makers' Marks    Pipers' Badges  Canadian Cloth Titles  Books  SEARCH
 
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 26-10-20, 10:14 PM
colin 17's Avatar
colin 17 colin 17 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Ottawa Canada
Posts: 445
Default Cap badge backings

Im working on a display of cap badges for a general period of 1900-1920. Cavalry Infantry and Yeomanry. Just trying to figure out if its worth put backings to those who would have had them and which ones they would be. I know about DCLI and I think South Lancashire had a similar red insert, same as the Royal Scots.. What others would have had them in that era? I do have the Badge backings and special embellishments book but it is a bit more modern looking.

Colin
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 26-10-20, 10:32 PM
cbuehler's Avatar
cbuehler cbuehler is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 3,389
Default

Not aware that the S. Lancs had a backing, at least during that time frame. Most rifle regiments did of course as well as the R. Scots and DCLI you mentioned, although during WW1 even these were often dispensed with.


CB
__________________
"We seldom learn the true want of what we have till it is discovered that we can have no more." Sam. Johnson
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 26-10-20, 11:03 PM
leigh kitchen's Avatar
leigh kitchen leigh kitchen is online now
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 9,034
Default

1st Bn The Royal Scots had a red backing to the voided centre, The 2nd Bn a green backing, I don't know the dates re the use of the green backing.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 27-10-20, 10:06 AM
Sonofacqms's Avatar
Sonofacqms Sonofacqms is online now
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,785
Default Suffolk Regt

The Suffolk Regiment had a red insert behind the castle.

KRRC had also a red backing.

Rob
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 27-10-20, 11:39 AM
Rob Miller's Avatar
Rob Miller Rob Miller is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Devonshire
Posts: 2,190
Default

Hi Colin

There are some colour plates in a book by Duncan Crow "British and Commonwealth Armoured Formations (1919-46)" where this has been attempted, I have no idea how accurate this is but to me it looks very pretty but sort of incomplete because its not uniform and of my lack of knowledge.

Rob
Attached Images
File Type: jpg 001.jpg (68.5 KB, 56 views)
File Type: jpg 002.jpg (53.8 KB, 40 views)
File Type: jpg 003.jpg (69.6 KB, 42 views)
File Type: jpg 004.jpg (40.0 KB, 32 views)
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 27-10-20, 01:41 PM
cbuehler's Avatar
cbuehler cbuehler is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 3,389
Default

Some of those backings were likely not actually worn in service, but in any case, all are well past 1920; most being post WW2.


CB
__________________
"We seldom learn the true want of what we have till it is discovered that we can have no more." Sam. Johnson
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 29-10-20, 10:00 AM
colin 17's Avatar
colin 17 colin 17 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Ottawa Canada
Posts: 445
Default

Thank you for all your replies in information, I was hoping for a few more to add a splash of colour but it will have enough.

Colin
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 29-10-20, 10:41 AM
John Mulcahy's Avatar
John Mulcahy John Mulcahy is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,291
Default

The Royal Munster Fusiliers wore a green shamrock as a backing in the service dress cap.


The style and dimensions tended to vary by battalion, for example

1st Bn. & 8th (Service) Bn. RMF, in his Aug, 1917 response to the National War Museum Questionnaire, the then OC of 1st Bn. RMF , Lt. Col R.H. Monck-Mason, provides the following information. “At Coventry, before proceeding to the Dardanelles the shamrock was adopted on the cap worn under the badge, sample attached. The larger one worn by the men and the smaller one by officers. This was adopted in February 1915”.
Later in his response he goes on to mention that after the absorption of the 8th Bn. RMF by 1st Bn. RMF on Nov. 23, 1916, “The actual cap shamrock worn by officers is a padded one with a beaded edge. I regret I have none to send you but Mssrs. B. Johnstone (Tailor) has the necessary pattern that is worn under the small brass grenade with the silver tiger on the ball of the grenade”.

2nd Bn. RMF, A green shamrock badge backing, 2¾ in. high inclusive of stem and 2¼ in. wide.

John
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 29-10-20, 11:44 AM
leigh kitchen's Avatar
leigh kitchen leigh kitchen is online now
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 9,034
Default

Are any cap badge backings featured in "The Badges of Kitchener's Army" by Peter Bilton?
(I'm not in a position to check at the moment).
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 29-10-20, 04:19 PM
cbuehler's Avatar
cbuehler cbuehler is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 3,389
Default

Whilst RMF officers seemed to be consistent in wearing the shamrock cap backing, ORs seem to have dispensed with it for the most part, at least in the field. I am sure there must be photos extent, but I have yet to see one with the ORs version in wear. Does anyone have an example of this shamrock?
I have seen RMF officer badges for sale in years past with a shamrock, but I think they were highly likely to be much later replacements.

CB

PS, I found a photo on the web of W. Cosgrove VC wearing a shamrock, with small collar grenades as well. This would be a publicity photo and I am sure he was dressed properly for it.
Conversely, I also saw a photo of a WW1 officer without the shamrock backing!
__________________
"We seldom learn the true want of what we have till it is discovered that we can have no more." Sam. Johnson

Last edited by cbuehler; 29-10-20 at 04:59 PM.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

mhs link

All times are GMT. The time now is 08:28 PM.


Powered by: vBulletin
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.