6 RAR Piper's Badge

[slick_mick]

This is an interesting badge - 6th Battalion (Royal Australian Regiment) piper's cross belt badge I believe.

6 RAR used to have a Pipes and Drums during the 1970s and 1980s but not sure if they have one currently.

Maker: Swann and Hudson





Does anyone know much about it?

Mick

[bgpipes]

With those elongated lugs,this badge could have been worn on a feather bonnet as well.

[badgecollector]

fantastic item mick
never seen one like this. have seen a similar vict scottish and sa scottish. is it yours?
bc

[slick_mick]

It belongs to a mate of mine.

Mick

[Seoc Beag]

Hi. My name is Andy Gorrie.
The badge shown was never an official Pipes & Drums Badge.
I had the badge made in Sigapore in 1972 when the Battalion was stationed there. It was made as a sample only and never accepted. I was Pipe Corporal at the time.

I went on to become Pipe Major and retired as such. During my service as Pipe Major, I wore the badge as a "kind of rosette" on the upper right on my kilt.

I sold it on ebay a few years ago.
Have a look at the pic on my Facebook Page.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...type=1&theater

Cheers
Andy

[badgecollector]

Originally Posted by Seoc Beag

Hi. My name is Andy Gorrie.
The badge shown was never an official Pipes & Drums Badge.
I had the badge made in Sigapore in 1972 when the Battalion was stationed there. It was made as a sample only and never accepted. I was Pipe Corporal at the time.

I went on to become Pipe Major and retired as such. During my service as Pipe Major, I wore the badge as a "kind of rosette" on the upper right on my kilt.

I sold it on ebay a few years ago.
Have a look at the pic on my Facebook Page.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...type=1&theater

Cheers
Andy

hi andy
thanks for the info. a lovely item and a shame never accepted for issue.
I note the white metal badge. I have one in white metal. were these the band badges?
bc

[Hussar100]

So Andy, does 6RAR still have its own Pipes and Drums or is it just the 5/7 Pipes and Drums they've kept?

[kingsley]

I would be interested in any comments on this large gilt RAR badge, 77mm high. Plaque badges do not usually have military lugs like this one.
We really need a book on Australian military band badges.

[slick_mick]

That would be a RAR band member's glengarry badge.

Looks ok to me.

Mick

[Seoc Beag]

Originally Posted by Hussar100

So Andy, does 6RAR still have its own Pipes and Drums or is it just the 5/7 Pipes and Drums they've kept?

None of the Battalions have a Pipes and Drums these days. However there are a few in the initial stages of re-forming. ie: 2 RAR, 6 RAR, 8/9 RAR. They do not officially exist in the manning of the Battalions, and if raised, the Battalion must fund them. In effect they have progressed backwards by about 40 years. A decision some years ago to disband Pipes and Drums left a big gap that will be difficult to fill.

[Seoc Beag]

Originally Posted by kingsley

I would be interested in any comments on this large gilt RAR badge, 77mm high. Plaque badges do not usually have military lugs like this one.
We really need a book on Australian military band badges.

RAR Glengarry Badges are chrome plated, and 74mm high. Pipes and Drums were the only RAR members to wear large RAR badges.This could be a plaque badge.

[Hussar100]

Originally Posted by Seoc Beag

None of the Battalions have a Pipes and Drums these days. However there are a few in the initial stages of re-forming. ie: 2 RAR, 6 RAR, 8/9 RAR. They do not officially exist in the manning of the Battalions, and if raised, the Battalion must fund them. In effect they have progressed backwards by about 40 years. A decision some years ago to disband Pipes and Drums left a big gap that will be difficult to fill.

The same thing happened to us mate (Irish Hussars). We had no P&D on establishment so we had to raise and fund them ourselves. Eventually when they were making an impact on tattoos the MoD stepped in and funded them, then demanded use of them.

[slick_mick]

2RAR Pipes and Drums at the Dedication ceremony of the Weipa RSL Monument held at Assembly Hall Park on Saturday 16th October 2010.