Glider Pilots Regiment Cap Badge in QC

[hagwalther]

Hi Guys,

Was the Glider Pilot Regiment cap badge ever officially made as a 'Queen's' crown variant in white or any other pre-anodised aluminium era metal?

Regards

Chris

[tynesideirish]

According to Insignia Of The Parachute Regiment & Airborne Forces 1940-48 by Peter J. McDermott GPR insignia continued to be worn in White Metal and Silver plate until 1957 when it was swallowed up by AAC.

I'm presuming this meant change of Crown on ERll taking the throne.

I can't ever recall seeing either an officers' or other ranks' pattern EIIR crown cap badge to the GPR. The quickest way to check is with the Museum of Army Flying at Middle Wallop - they have some very helpful staff, most ex AAC and some quite well briefed on the regiment. They also have a very good reference collection. GD

[Alan O]

I have never seen an a/a one. I have seen lots of wm Q/C ones and the oldest were all marked JRGaunt Bham so were not contemporary.

Alan

AlanO - Does 'not contemporary' mean that they were fakes ? GD

[hagwalther]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the replies.

If a white metal 'Queen's' crown variant existed then that would imply that an anodised aluminium 'King's' crown version was never made would it not?

Such production from the KC A/A to QC W/M would be a backward step in regard to the evolution of badge metals at the time.

Regards

Chris

[Alan O]

Originally Posted by Grand Duchess

AlanO - Does 'not contemporary' mean that they were fakes ? GD

Yes. If the Gaunt Bham mark was indeed post 1973 as research suggests then they are fakes.

[hagwalther]

Hi Guys,

OK, so apart from the Gaunt B'Ham items were there any original and authentic WM badges made?

Regards

Chris

Can we conclude, therefore, that no-one has any evidence whatsoever of a EIIR crowned white metal GPR cap badge being worn ? GD

[Luc]

The army flying badge/glider pilot wings was made with QC, so why not the cap badge as well?

[hagwalther]

Originally Posted by Luc

The army flying badge/glider pilot wings was made with QC, so why not the cap badge as well?

Hi Luc,

Depends if they had loads of so called 'King's' Crown variants to use up before they finished active service on 1st September 1957.

Any other thoughts?

I think it fair to say anything marked J R Gaunt B'Ham is 1973 onwards but are there any other badges marked by Gaunt or other makers?

Regards

Chris

Luc - Where is your evidence to support your suggestion ? GD

[fougasse1940]

Originally Posted by hagwalther

Hi Guys,

Was the Glider Pilot Regiment cap badge ever officially made as a 'Queen's' crown variant in white or any other pre-anodised aluminium era metal?

Regards

Chris

Yes, in WM and silver-plate, according to K&K, don't know if it was actually made, but it was sealed in annodized silver 12th October 1955, two years before the incorporation into the AAC.

Rgds,
fougasse1940.

fougasse1940 - How can you say 'yes' and then indicate that you don't know if the badge was actually made ? Either it actually existed or it did not - I argue that it did not. Even the sealed pattern to which you refer is for the a/a version, not white metal. How do you support your assertion that a EIIR crown GPR badge existed in w/m ? Does anyone have an example of a EIIR crown GPR cap badge in white metal or silver plate ? GD

[Luc]

GD, these are the wings I was referring to. It is difficult to put a date on them, but I believe them to be from the fifties.