Berkshire Yeomanry silver anodised aluminium

[Luke H]

Hello all,

I need some agonised ally help.

Does the Berkshire Yeo in silver AA legitimately exist?

Recently seen this badge on a website. However the mark looks duff and you can see on the reverse what appear to be the marks of loops so I suspect it’s a casting from a metal badge - I’m sure it’s fake.

I’ve seen a sil AA badge with loops which has been described as a NCOs arm badge. However I’m again dubious as to authenticity.

I do own a gold AA badge made by Timmings (thanks Michael) which I’m 100% sure is kosher. So just wondering if I’m missing a badge or not.

Thanks in advance,

Luke

[billy]

Nicely made, and would consider hard to make if a copy? Look forward to seeing how this pans out? Good luck acquiring it!

[Mike H]

The silver badge is to the Berkshire Territorials not the Yeomanry.Looks like its had lugs on at some point . The slider looks wrong,I'm sure the slidered version is usually blank.
The arm badge is lugged,you can find it in gold or silver. Pretty sure that one is to the Berks Yeo the other to Berks and Westminster Dragoons.

[Alan O]

Mike is right.

The Berkshire Yeomanry in the 1950s wore full sized gold a/a badges as well as reduced size brass ones.

Post amalgamation they wore the a/a Berks &WD badge.

Circa 1968 the silver large horse was designed for the Berkshire Territorials which included an element form the BY. This badge does exist and it is recorded in the BY regtl history that it was briefly worn on a red oval.

Soon after the Berks Yeo Sqn rebadged to Royal Signals and has moved between 31 Sig Regt (V) and 39 Sig Regt. They wear the horse as a lugged arm badge in No1 Dress.

[Luke H]

Originally Posted by Mike H

The silver badge is to the Berkshire Territorials not the Yeomanry.Looks like its had lugs on at some point . The slider looks wrong,I'm sure the slidered version is usually blank.
The arm badge is lugged,you can find it in gold or silver. Pretty sure that one is to the Berks Yeo the other to Berks and Westminster Dragoons.

That’s interesting, thanks Mike and Alan.

Do either of you have an example of a good one to show?

[Mike H]

Originally Posted by Luke H

That’s interesting, thanks Mike and Alan.

Do either of you have an example of a good one to show?

I have an image of the example that was in my collection. I'll post it for you later on Luke.
You have brought something up there Luke,mentioning cast badges. I read an article somewhere that said at one point the MOD was not going to fund new anodised arm badges for the Yeomanry. Certain regiments approached to Azzams in Lahore to produce their arm badges for them.
I've seen a Warwick and Worcs pear leaf arm badge and a Duke of Lancasters Own Yeomanry crown arm badge. I'm sure one of the DLOY journals actually mentions them sourcing the new arm badges from Pakistan.
It's not beyond the realms of possibility that the Berks Yeo did the same thing. I would be pretty sure the slider has been added to the badge Luke and as you say it's not good.

[Mike H]

Here you go Luke.
Blank slider

[Luke H]

Originally Posted by billy

Nicely made, and would consider hard to make if a copy? Look forward to seeing how this pans out? Good luck acquiring it!

I’d actually say the opposite is true Billy. If you zoom in you see the definition and detailing is actually poor. The lettering is not sharp or crisp with square ends as it should be but rounded, poorly defined and in low relief compared to the scroll.

Also look closely and you can see divots and pock marks on the surface of the horse yet these are filled in with AA. Along with my concerns regarding the back these are the hallmarks of a cast copy.

Throw in the spurious Firmin mark and a slider with a crimp(?) and I’m convinced we have a very good fake.

If anyone is interested it’s on Cultman Collectibles (no connection) priced at an eye watering £75. Personally I wouldn’t give a fiver for it and am convinced the potential buyer will be wasting their money.