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#1
06-09-23, 08:13 PM
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DCLI Valise badge question
Hello
The attached badge is described in Ivall & Thomas, Military Insignia of Cornwall, states this was worn by 2nd battalion DCLI in the army occupation of Germany (1922-24) and on Guernsey from 1924-27 Excuse my ignorance, but does this mean it was worn on the large pack on their backs? It has a slider, so was a hole made to pop it in, or was it attached to a strap or something. Was this unique to the DCLI, or did anyone else attach a badge? Are there any photos of DCLI wearing this badge? Many thanks for your time Chris Last edited by 3dg; 07-09-23 at 07:04 AM. 
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#2
07-09-23, 07:12 AM
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Valise badges are described for the Worcestershire Regiment and are often mistaken for helmet plates/glengarry badges. The Lincolnshire Regiment wore a large brass Sphinx as a valise badge and I have posted a pic of it being worn on the Forum a bit back. There are others like the Cheshire regiment and all from my understanding are valise badges, cheers Dean
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#3
07-09-23, 07:54 AM
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Thank you Dean, so those Regiments took up the Valise badges the same time as the DCLI?
I've always been aware of Valise badges as red coats, but not these post WW1 badges. So they were attached to the 1908 pattern large pack(?) As worn on the back? Why was this practice taken up post war? Was it for Regimental pride, a show piece as it were? Fascinating Cheers Chris
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#4
07-09-23, 08:02 PM
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On looking at the other threads regarding Valise badges, they all seem to have been worn pre war by the Guards and other line Regiments, so I can only assume that the DCLI one was literally made post WW1 for the second Battalion, and is unique?
So the soldiers wore their khaki service dress, 1908 webbing with the valise, or backpack, and this badge on it? Interesting to see all the other Valise badges with chunky brass bracket fixings to slide straps through I assume, and the DCLI has a slider. Any help would be most helpful, as I am basing everything on my assumption. Many thanks Chris
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#5
08-09-23, 04:07 PM
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These sound more like Music Case (aka Bandsmen’s Pouch) badges. Worn by regimental bandsmen, but not drummers they were suspended in the centre of the back on a diagonal pouch belt. However, they were usually fixed in place by either screw posts or extra long loops to go through the thickness of the ‘buff leather’ (meaning sueded) pouch. In addition in most infantry regiments there was a period when the same pouch, complete with badge, was used by the ‘Adjutant’s orderly’ (a runner) in the days before telephones to convey written and verbal messages around barracks. It was a daily duty furnished by the rostered duty company. These badges vary greatly in design and predate the amalgamations of 1881 so that in those regiments with two lineages their might be different badges for the 1st and 2nd Battalions. They were sometimes constructed via sand casting methods for battalions abroad. They were unofficial in the sense that they were not publicly funded and therefore entirely within the remit of battalion commanding officers, albeit following a traditional design set in regimental headquarters. The Foot Guards did not favour these music cases on the back, preferring instead a case fitted at the front of the waist belt on those occasions when they were felt necessary.
Having studied these things (British Army traditions) for many years now I must say that after the Cardwell Reforms, I’ve never heard of metal Valise badges being worn by any regiments beyond the brigade of Foot Guards, and the Worcestershire Regiment, for whom it was a tradition commemorating their raising by a former officer of the 3rd (Coldstream) Regiment of Foot Guards. They had though, previously been worn by the numbered regiments on the original pattern of valise. The valise badge was subsequently worn on the folded greatcoat placed in the centre of the upper back between the shoulder blades. Before that they had been worn on the black leather ‘valise’, which was a folding, envelope type backpack in which a soldier carried his spare clothing, boots and shaving equipment, etc. when in Marching Order. Other regiments generally had their badge, number, or name painted on instead of a metal badge, depending upon the period. In the Worcestershire Regiment they were later fitted to small packs for wear when on Guard as a regimental idiosyncrasy. The fixture on the back of the valise badge varied as a result of these changes in usage. Last edited by Toby Purcell; 17-09-23 at 08:10 AM.
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#6
08-09-23, 05:23 PM
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#7
08-09-23, 07:04 PM
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Hi Toby
Thank you for your excellent detailed answer. The badge in question is in the book mentioned in my OP, I've attached the exact script. The authors, I know one of them was a curator in the museum, and all the information has been collected from there and other Cornwall museums. I have seen others of these badges, some with numbers stamped on them, and a bit bashed and twisted ends to the star, well used. And it does actually say it was attached to the large pack, I must have had a senior moment when I read the text as I missed that for some reason. I'd love to see a photograph of it in use. The museum is not far from me, I'll have to pop in one day, I was last there in 1994. Cheers Chris
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#8
09-09-23, 11:13 AM
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#11
10-09-23, 07:23 PM
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I wonder what happened to his collection?! I do enjoy this part of collecting, finding something, albeit it's been around a while, and trying to find evidence of its existence, although I don't doubt the authenticity of these particular badges, it seems quite an elaborate story to make up, I think a lot of research went into it, I would just really like to see a photo of this badge being worn, a Regimental one off I'd say, a trip.to the museum with an appointment to see photos and archives is on the cards. Cheers Chris
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#12
10-09-23, 07:44 PM
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Professor Charles Thomas Badge collection
Hi Chris, Collection sold by Olympia Auction house,
Fabulous collection see link below. https://www.olympiaauctions.com/sale...0&v=list#lot-1 best regards John
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#13
10-09-23, 09:08 PM
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Chris
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