R A Chrome

[rmarsden]

Heavy chrome plating both sides, who would have worn this?

[manchesters]

Ron,

I dont know who would have worn it, band etc. but what I can say is that its a typically Canadian strike.

regards

[dak580]

Ron

Here is a picture of my RA Chrome badge K/C. Also have a RA cap badge in silver anodised.

Reading the posts on chrome badges on this forum some members believe they have a connection to the RAC in WW2 and some believe they are band or walking out badges. I don't know which it is but have managed to collect several and they look great.

I have no idea who wore the silver anodised badge, if any member knows maybe they could please let me know.

John

[fairlie63]

Originally Posted by dak580

Ron


I have no idea who wore the silver anodised badge, if any member knows maybe they could please let me know.

John

I think this is a pattern made for the RA Shop, not an issue item, and the anodising process might not have been completed. 54bty will be the man to ask.
Keith

[dak580]

Hi Keith

The finish is quite bright which may not come over so good in the picture not the light grey of a unfinished badge.

One thing that is different is that this badge is lugged while every other RA badge I have in metal or anodised has a slider fitting.

John

[fougasse1940]

Perhaps a pouch badge?

Rgds, Thomas.

[fairlie63]

Originally Posted by dak580

Hi Keith

The finish is quite bright which may not come over so good in the picture not the light grey of a unfinished badge.

One thing that is different is that this badge is lugged while every other RA badge I have in metal or anodised has a slider fitting.

John

That's correct John, the RA Shop commissions were lugged. The design was based on the first pattern of anodised RA badge, with the wheel added, there are at least two patterns of wheel I have noted recently - one similar to that which appears on the second pattern of issued anodised RA badge, like yours, and one similar to the wheel on the officers' gilt and bronzed versions of the RA badge.

Keith

[dak580]

Originally Posted by fairlie63

That's correct John, the RA Shop commissions were lugged. The design was based on the first pattern of anodised RA badge, with the wheel added, there are at least two patterns of wheel I have noted recently - one similar to that which appears on the second pattern of issued anodised RA badge, like yours, and one similar to the wheel on the officers' gilt and bronzed versions of the RA badge.

Keith

Thanks Thomas and Keith for your replies.

Keith any idea why they were made in a silver colour and what years they would have been sold??

Would any serving soldiers bought them to use while on duty like Thomas says for a pouch badge?

John

[54Bty]

Originally Posted by dak580

Keith any idea why they were made in a silver colour and what years they would have been sold??

Would any serving soldiers bought them to use while on duty like Thomas says for a pouch badge?

John

No body knows why that design was accepted into the RAA shop stock and I doubt that anyone noticed. However none of the ones I have seen are really silver, just a not very gold, gold.

There was only the one RAA shop and that was in the Royal Artillery Barracks, in Woolwich, which the majority of Serving soldiers had never seen. It was mainly for the retired members. As for a pouch badge only Officers should be wearing a pouch, with either a gilt or bronze badge.

One of these anomalies we may never get to the bottom of.

Marc

[REMEVMBEA1]

Many of these chromed badges could have been privately chromed by the wearer as keepsake , while I was stationed in HK I was often asked if I coulkd get items chromed in the workshop by people bringing equipment in for repair. Almost all my mates had chromed buckles on their stable belts for example,