Royal 1st Devon Yeo - the definitive thread! - Page 4 - British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum

dak580 · #46 20-09-16, 11:36 AM

Have always thought this is Royal First Devon Yeomanry unless someone knows different???

KK lists it as bronze or white metal.

Rockape · #47 17-05-17, 08:10 AM

A much needed photo...

Second Lieutenant Douglas Boden Royal 1st Devon Yeomanry

© IWM (HU 114011)

Rob Miller · #48 17-05-17, 08:46 AM

Thanks for posting this.

Are the buttons plain?

Rob

3dg · #49 09-10-17, 11:31 AM

Hello good people of the forum.
I'm trying to clear up exactly the badges worn by the Royal 1st Devon Yeomanry.
And I still have a few questions that I hope the experts can answer please.
Here's what I know, with some photos and references.

Officers full dress peaked cap a bullion Royal crest, described in R.J Smith and R.G Harris's book, The Yeomanry Force at the 1911 Coronation. And photo 1 from the same book.

Officers service dress, Bronze Royal crest. Many discussions on the forum about this badge, whether its Devon Yeomanry or General Staff. Photo 2 from John Gaylor book, photo 3 K&K.

Other ranks, Royal crest in White metal on both the full dress peaked and service dress cap. Described in K&K book, but not pictured. Described and pictured in the Smith and Harris book, photos 4 and 5.

The questions i have are,
1, does a silver badge exist for Officers?

2, Has the Bronze Royal crest General Staff or Devon Yeomanry been cleared up yet?

3, The John Gaylor book says the badge was in bronze or Brass, ive seen many a Royal crest BRASS badge on auction sites, but all the photos I have seen appear to be white metal. The Norman Lichfield Territorial Artillery book has one of these badges photographed, which appears to be brass. Photo 6.
Was this brass badge worn by the Devon Yeomanry?

4, last one! Does anyone have an example of the Officers Bullion badge, and a white metal badge please.

I hope someone can help, thank you for your time.

3dg

Cleeman · #50 09-10-17, 05:16 PM

Hi 3dg,

This is a badge I have also been struggling to confirm what variants existed. I have two that I hope are correct, although they differ.

The gm badge is 4cm tall and has what I believe to be a correct period slider for WW1. The the other badge is 3.5cm tall and I think it may be officer pattern with blades. Unfortunately it features the gap between the tip of the crown and rear leg and suspect it may the General Staff badge.

Looking forward to read what responses you get.

3dg · #51 09-10-17, 06:06 PM

Thank you for posting the pics, yes, I saw the post with regard to the leg positioning on the bronze badge.
I like the brass badge you have, I don't know of anyone else who wore that pattern badge so must be the brass version. So do you think they may have worn white metal pre wore and brass/gilding metal during?
Is the white metal one a rarity? I cannot find anyone who has one.
Cheers

3dg

Cleeman · #52 09-10-17, 06:41 PM

Personally, I have not come across a white version, but I have not been collecting Yeomanry badges for long. I know K&K mention there is one, but I cannot find any other evidence of its existence either.

Hopefully someone with more knowledge and experience on here can enlighten us.

3dg · #53 09-10-17, 07:24 PM

Let's hope so.
All the photos of OR's appear to be wearing white metal badges, I've no idea about the GM one!
Can anyone help?

fougasse1940 · #54 09-10-17, 08:05 PM

Would it even be possible to discern between polished all W/M or polished all G/M from a photograph?

Rgds, Thomas.

3dg · #55 09-10-17, 08:21 PM

You have a good point there Thomas, maybe the white metal was worn on the full dress cap and the brass on the service dress?
Don't know, all the photos I've seen on the service dress hat appear to look like WM, brass appears duller on photos normally.

3dg · #56 09-10-17, 08:26 PM

From a past post, what do you think?

fougasse1940 · #57 09-10-17, 09:13 PM

The sepia tone of the photo makes me lean towards G/M, but now see what you think with the image desaturated.
Honestly, I can't tell.

Rgds, Thomas.

fougasse1940 · #58 09-10-17, 09:27 PM

These two images from the Nijmegen portrait collection https://www.flickr.com/photos/region...7629480797400/ show bi-metal badges. Can you honestly tell from these images which part of the badge is G/M and which is W/M?

Rgds, Thomas.

3dg · #59 09-10-17, 09:50 PM

Signals GM outer looks white metal, so I see what you mean.
I think cleeman's GM badge is 100% Devon Yeomanry, I'd say, speculation of course, the WM was worn on the full dress, as in the Yeomanry book pictures on my OP. And the GM on the service dress hat, as cleeman's badge.
Has anyone got a WM in their collection?
Thanks again

Alan O · #60 10-10-17, 08:08 AM

Without wishing to be controversial as the officers badges were bought, why would the RDY not wear the same pattern of Bz badge as the General Staff? There are makers variations of that badge so no single pattern would be 'correct' for either.

There is at least one more recent example of this as the Westminster Dragoons had their officers wearing the General Staff cap badge. https://www.kellybadges.co.uk/miscel...or-helmet.html