Royal Welch Fusiliers Anodised Badge With Extended Lugs

[Toby Purcell]

Thanks everyone. interesting. My belief is that this was a very early 50s badge from when the Coloured Service Dress Hat was being worn with No1 Dress. The RWF did not universally start to wear the beret and hackle in all forms of dress until much later in the 1950s.

[41st]

Originally Posted by Alan Owen

I have an identical but more modern one marked Firmin london. That Hughes one is much older as they were around in the 1950s and made the pre 1958 Royal Irish Fusiliers badges as well.

Alan

I also have a Firmin London anodised example with slider and a Firmin marked anodised example with lugs and hackle retainer.
In addition I have a heavy metal three part badge with a slider marked J.R.GAUNT B'HAM, and a light metal three part badge with crown and title secured with screw fixing to the ball of the grenade and lugs and hackle retainer ( I would add that this badge is of very high quality construction but not Officers' silver and gilt ).
I also have about two or three other variants.
Hope this is of some help.
Hwyl,
Kevin

[Toby Purcell]

Originally Posted by 41st

I also have a Firmin London anodised example with slider and a Firmin marked anodised example with lugs and hackle retainer.
In addition I have a heavy metal three part badge with a slider marked J.R.GAUNT B'HAM, and a light metal three part badge with crown and title secured with screw fixing to the ball of the grenade and lugs and hackle retainer ( I would add that this badge is of very high quality construction but not Officers' silver and gilt ).
I also have about two or three other variants.
Hope this is of some help.
Hwyl,
Kevin

Many thanks Kevin, it would be great to see photos of these if you can.

We used to purchase heavy, 2-part b/m Gaunt badges from the PRI in the late 70s and early 80s. I used to flatten them a little in a vice (to enlarge the badge slightly) and solder the pins (at back) that secured the circlet (often loosely) to the bomb. They used to polish up beautifully and the hackle was secured in the leather tube inside the beret intended for the slider.

[41st]

The examples referred to above:-
1.Front of slidered version.
2.Rear showing 'FIRMIN LONDON' mark.
3.Rear of standard variant with lugs and hackle retainer showing 'FIRMIN' mark. Note that there is no reference to the place of manufacture.

[Toby Purcell]

Originally Posted by 41st

The examples referred to above:-
1.Front of slidered version.
2.Rear showing 'FIRMIN LONDON' mark.
3.Rear of standard variant with lugs and hackle retainer showing 'FIRMIN' mark. Note that there is no reference to the place of manufacture.

Thanks Kevin, I only saw the lugs version in my service but I did see a photo of a RWF (street lining) detachment wearing the coloured 'Royal' pattern of the SD cap for the Queen's Coronation of 1953 and I am wondering if the slidered badge was for that head dress prior to the adoption of the beret for all forms of dress in the early 1960s.

[41st]

Toby,
Whilst I think you will be proved correct, I believe that the 'Firmin' mark will prove the dates.
If anyone knows when they switched from Firmin London to just Firmin, it should narrow it down for us.
Cofion
Kevin.

[Toby Purcell]

Originally Posted by 41st

Toby,
Whilst I think you will be proved correct, I believe that the 'Firmin' mark will prove the dates.
If anyone knows when they switched from Firmin London to just Firmin, it should narrow it down for us.
Cofion
Kevin.

Yes, there is bound to be someone on this site who will know the answer to that. Anyone?