5th London RFA Brigade

[54Bty]

Originally Posted by fairlie63

What did cadets at the 'Shop' wear Marc?

Keith

Although they had their own items of Uniform (resembling that of the Royal Regiment of Artillery) their Service Dress was similar to the norm, with the cap badge being the Royal Military Academy, until commissioned into a Regiment.

Marc

[badjez]

Excuse the liberty of adding to an old thread but it makes searching for information more easily subsequently.

Enquiry was made about RA Cadet badges, here is info about Watford Scouts RA Cadets:
01.06.11. AO 161: Recognition promulgated of unit. Subsequently Coy requested authority to wear their own cap badge ‘SX’ surmounted by a coronet. The significance of this is lost. WO turned down the application, suggesting they adopt the RA Gun with ‘Cadets’ replacing ‘Ubique’.

Additionally, there are many photos of Norfolk cadet Artillery wearing the large gun cap badge during the 1920's, sadly none are of clear enough definition to tell if they were cadet or RA versions.

Attached a picture of a BP stamped Cadet version.

Stephen.

[fairlie63]

Hi Stephen, thanks for the info about Walford Scouts RA Cadets, gives a clue to what organization was intended to wear them.

The badge you illustrate is one of the 1970s 'tall orb' fakes unfortunately.

Keith

[badjez]

Ketih, I'm not totally surprised. Perhaps the mods could move this to the 'Makers' Mark section as there are no pictures of 'dud' badges under the 'BP & Co' section.

Stephen.

[fairlie63]

Have just been reading "Diary of An ANZAC", by Arthur Orchard. The subject of the book, Albert Arthur Orchard MC, attended the RA Cadet School at St John Wood between 27 October 1916 to 26 March 1917.

There is a photograph in this book taken of the course members at St John Wood, all of whom are wearing British Army OR uniform, with the cloth CADET with gun in wreath badge on both arms, and a gilt 'gun' badge on the white band on the peaked cap. This includes the individual concerned who was an Australian and serving with an Australian artillery unit. There were no doubt other Australians there as he records that they were sorry to lose their Australian clothes but had to wear special uniform.

So the cloth badges still being worn in early 1917, and worn by Australians, but I would say that the cap badge was almost certainly the standard RA badge.

Keith