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Old 18-03-19, 08:37 AM
jf42 jf42 is offline
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Default South Staffords 'Holland' badge backing

Greetings all.

On B&CMBF and elsewhere, it is possible to find numerous versions of the origin of the South Staffords badge backing adopted in 1935. These all turn on the long period of service of the 38th Regiment in the West Indies during the C18th, problems of supplly and the need to repair or replace items of uniform. Variously the narrative mentions sugar sacks, 'Holland' linen or 'hessian' sacking.

I am hoping to find the earliest versions of this tradition, preferably from before 1935 but any authoritative chapter and verse would be helpful not least text from the 1935 granting of the distinction.

Any pointers much appreciated. JF
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Old 19-03-19, 10:37 PM
jf42 jf42 is offline
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Further to my earlier query, those interested in the story of the 38th may be interested to know that the earliest regimental history appears to be-

A History of the South Staffordshire Regiment (1705-1923) by James P. Jones (1923), which can be read online here:
https://digitalarchive.mcmaster.ca/i...e/507/mode/2up

The relevant passage is here:

'Appendix III The Uniform of the Regiment. [Contributed by Lionel E. Buckell] (p.438)

In 1752, Ross’s Regiment ( the 38th), while serving in the West Indies, was permitted to wear linen linings to the coat instead of cloth.'

That's it!

This may be the earliest publshed reference to the origin of the Holland badge backing authorised for the South Staffords in 1935. It clearly does not record the more colourful state of affairs that popular narrative suggests.

The neglected regiment's clothing is not depicted hanging from the men in tatters or needing to be replaced entirely (Forty-odd years after their arrival in the Caribbean, the 38th had certainly bided their time to act). There is no mention of sugar bags or hessian sacking. It seems a regiment serving in a tropical station was simply authorised to use lighter fabric to line their regimental coats, a practice recorded in North America and in India.

It may be the fabric used came from bolts of the same linen used to wrap produce of the sugar factories and this may have been seen as a droll state of affairs by officers that was then passed down in regimental tradition, but if so the author of the history does not include that detail. We might ask ourselves why he chooses to mention the episode at all.

it would be interesting to see what additional comment was made at the time of the authorisation of the badge backing in 1935, in regimental journals or elsewhere.

JF

Last edited by jf42; 20-03-19 at 11:32 AM.
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Old 23-03-19, 11:14 PM
jf42 jf42 is offline
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Continuing the theme, a very thorough study of Staffordshire Regt Insignia [38th, 64th, 80th & 98th ] in the bulletin of the Military Historical Society, Issue 84, Vol. XXI, May 1971, noted:

'From 1935 all South Stafford badges were worn with a patch of Brown Holland (This is the official description, but in fact the colour is almost buff) behind the Knot. This was a dress distinction awarded by King George to commemorate the 57 years' continuous service of the old 38th in the West Indies from 1707 to 1764.'
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