1907-1917 Maxim Machine Gun Proficiency Badge - British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum

atillathenunns · #1 14-01-19, 08:07 AM

Thought I would share my rare Maxim Machine Gun proficiency badge which was first established in ‘NZ Regulation No. 601 of December 1907’.

leigh kitchen · #2 14-01-19, 09:10 AM

Interesting badge - if it turned up in Britain I'd probably just immediately think "Mortar" rather than "Maxim", not paying much attention to the style of "M".

atillathenunns · #3 14-01-19, 09:48 AM

NZ Volunteers/Territorials commonly used old English characters on proficiency badges from 1895 up until the end of WW1.
Many NZ proficiency badges were direct copies of British badges, so am interested if this old English style "M" was used by the British or any other Commonwealth countries?

leigh kitchen · #4 14-01-19, 09:53 AM

I think not - cue "grumpy" (and others).

manchesters · #5 14-01-19, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atillathenunns

NZ Volunteers/Territorials commonly used old English characters on proficiency badges from 1895 up until the end of WW1.
Many NZ proficiency badges were direct copies of British badges, so am interested if this old English style "M" was used by the British or any other Commonwealth countries?

The old style 'M' was not worn in the British Army and as Leigh states the normal style letter 'M' was not used until 1957.

A nice and no doubt rare badge.

Is it possible for you to attach the ‘NZ Regulation No. 601 of December 1907’.

regards

atillathenunns · #6 15-01-19, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by manchesters

The old style 'M' was not worn in the British Army and as Leigh states the normal style letter 'M' was not used until 1957.

A nice and no doubt rare badge.

Is it possible for you to attach the ‘NZ Regulation No. 601 of December 1907’.

regards

Unfortunately I do not have a copy of Regulation No. 601, but I do have a an article published 18th December 1907 that mentions 601 and also Regulation No. 418A that it was attached to.

atillathenunns · #7 15-01-19, 09:15 AM

The following advertisement is dated 15th December 1916.
P. Robert & Co were the main supplier of NZ proficiency badges from 1895 up until 1917.
Note all 3 types of machine gun badges including Maxim are listed.