RA Proficiency Badge Bandsman Correct Identification?

[JennWick]

Forgive me if I've messed this up, and posted in the wrong place. What I have discovered when researching this piece is that the internet is full of people who are willing to SELL you medals, but not a lot of consistency in their history or classifications.

I just picked this up a few months ago, and took some time researching it. Please correct me if I'm wrong?

British Royal Army Proficiency Badge for a Volunteer Bandsman from 1931 - 1950
- worn on the sleeve (originally worn on both arms, then on the lower right arm), given to enlisted men
- most of them were cloth, only certain units wore metal badges

Further questions:

How do I accurately date proficiency badges? Are there quality online resources? I also could possibly access to a library of books on the topic of military medals, if I know what to look for first.

What is the significance of the different leaves around the edge? It looks to me like the oak leaves were for RA, and maple leaves were for Canada - but is that accurate and to what date? The current RA badge has what looks like laurel leaves.

Thank you for any and all thoughts!

[Bill A]

Hello JennWick, welcome to the Forum. Your account is active and open for posts.

[engr9266]

This looks like a standard bandsman arm badge.
A good reference for this type item is "BRITISH ARMY PROFICIENCY BADGES"
by Denis EDWARDS and David LANGLEY commonly called just Edwards & Langley. See 158 on page 116.
Hope this helps.
Jerry.

[grumpy]

Its not Volunteer [not white metal], its any time in the reigns of sovereigns between Victoria and Elizabeth II, and its not RA [who had a distinctive badge].

Only to be worn upper right arm.

Not confined in gilding metal to certain units, it was universal.

Difficult to estimate size, and I am assuming it is not the large [very large] Bandmaster version, which was 8cm top to toe.

Bandmaster wore the badge bottom right sleeve.

[54Bty]

Just to add to the above your use of RA in the British Army indicates Royal Artillery, we do not have a ROYAL Army, therefore the us of RA in that context is incorrect.

Marc

[JennWick]

Thank you so much! Extremely helpful, both in clarifying what the badge is and how little I understand about military terms!