Lancaster Royal Grammar School

[RSM]

There are currently two LRGS badges on eBay:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LANCASTER...bSlb:rk:2:pf:0

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Original-...cUvN:rk:1:pf:0

They are, to my eye, both identical in manufacture. Something about them doesn't seem right, the KC seems 'wonky', the voiding in the KC seems sloppy, one of them looks artificially aged(??)...........I'm no expert, so I'm not making any statements, and in no way wishing to challenge the guys selling the items, or those bidding on them, but still I would like to know more about these badges.

So what exactly are they? Where do they fit in to the lineage of LRGS badges? Are these genuine JTC examples post 1942? Or copies of the JTC version? Did the JTC version actually have JTC in place of OTC or simply a void? Has anyone a JTC lettered example to compare?

They are not OTC - see Alan O's genuine OTC version here:https://www.britishbadgeforum.com/fo...ictureid=70686

And here (approx halfway down the page)

http://www.kingsownmuseum.com/mus03badcapothers.htm

can be found a CCF version with QC, and underneath another example, KC, simply entitled 'Cadet Force' - which is the version that the two on Ebay purport to be. Is this actually the elusive JTC version? And if so it is very well made compared to the two currently for sale on eBay?

Would welcome any thoughts on this.

Cheers,

Rich.

[Alan O]

I have had the privilege of some exceptional assistance from the school archivist who has taken a considerable amount of time looking into the answers to this question. He has very kindly emailed me pictures of the school cadets from the 1920s through to the 1970s. As they are school property I am not posting them on line and I hope you understand the reason for this.

The school archive shows the OTC cap badge in use in the 1920s in brass and in bronze by the staff. This reflects EJ Martins records from 1938.

Circa 1942 the OTC badge was changed with the removal of the OTC. This badge was in use in the 1940's, 50's, 60's and even the 1970's. All of this is attributable to the school photos. The King's Crown remains in use throughout this period. The photos show that the badge is bronzed and worn on a black beret,

The school has a number of badges in their archive and there is no record of a badge with the JTC initials in it. There were JTC titles but not a cap badge with JTC replacing OTC. The k/c with the OTC removed appears to have covered both JTC and CCF periods.

A Queen's crown CCF badge exists but as yet I don't know when it came into use.

[RSM]

Fantastic Alan, thank you very much for sharing your knowledge. I always had a memory of seeing a JTC lettered version many years ago at a militaria fair, but I guess my memory is playing tricks on me. Thanks for the clarification.

[Alan O]

The school archivist has kindly provided these photos from the badge in the school collection. The 2 middle ones are the same design in a different colour of bronze finish.

[RSM]

That's great to see, many thanks for sharing!

[Alan O]

Following an update from the school the Q/C badge (with CCF title) replaced the K/C version some time in the mid 1980s.