6th Royal Scots enquiry

[lettman]

I assume the 6th Royal Scots wore the standard RS cap badge at the beginning of WW1, but which did they wear when amalgamated with the 5th Bn in 1916? I would think there might not have been enough of the 5th's particular badge to go round, so perhaps the whole 5/6th Bn took on the standard badge? Any help here appreciated.

[badjez]

Hi,

An Army Council Instruction (1338) published on 11.07.16. announced that the Army Ordnance Dept would replace the County TA Associations in supplying insignia to TA units. This was the begining of the issue of 'economy brass' badges, the introduction of universal designs of badges irrespective of being Regular, TA, New Army and the dispencement with such titles as T/Y/BEDFORD or T/RE/EAST ANGLIAN etc. Corps troops adopted RFA or RE; Yeomanry units adopted Y/BEDFORD; T/5/BEDFORD being replaced by BEDFORD.

This does not mean that soldiers from 5th & 6th Royal Scots would have been re-badges en-masse. wartime economy precluded that. Old soldiers would have continued to wear their existing badges. New recruits and replacements would have been of the new styles as old stock was used up.

Hope this helps.
Stephen.

[lettman]

Thanks, Stephen -- that's very interesting and comprehensive information.