British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum

Recent Books by Forum Members

   

Go Back   British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum > British Military Insignia > Airborne, Elite and Special Forces Insignia

 Other Pages: Galleries, Links etc.
Glossary  Books by Forum Members     Canadian Pre 1914    CEF    CEF Badge Inscriptions   Canadian post 1920     Canadian post 1953     British Cavalry Badges     Makers' Marks    Pipers' Badges  Canadian Cloth Titles  Books  SEARCH
 
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 03-12-20, 05:07 PM
Colin S Colin S is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 415
Default Question for the Sappers

Why do the airborne RE officers in the attached late 1950s/early 1960s photos wear Other Ranks beret badges?
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 03-12-20, 09:59 PM
Sapper795 Sapper795 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 297
Default

Hi Colin.
If I remember correctly and looking at some of the items I my collection, officers wore the same pattern badge as O/Rs in the beret but possibly in silver and gilt rather than A/A they definitely wore same pattern badge in silver and gilt when wearing a hat. As you are probably aware earlier officer pattern badges had a gap between the circlet and the Laurel leaves where O/Rs were solid. The O/R pattern cap badge changed to also have a gap. I think but may be wrong officers wore the same A/A as O/Rs in the beret. I have seen some badges with a different construction allegedly for W/Os and officers. I am not convinced by their just think it’s a makers variation. I served in the 80s so may be totally off base.
Why do you think they are O/Rs ?
Regards
Chris
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 03-12-20, 10:24 PM
Colin S Colin S is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 415
Default

Hi Chris

Thanks for the response but I’ve always thought that RE officers have always worn a flaming grenade badge on their berets - hence my question. There are photos of Airborne RE officers wearing the grenade as a beret badge in WW2 and in my own experience of the RE since the 1980s officers always wear a grenade badge on berets. Have I missed something here?
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 03-12-20, 11:25 PM
Sapper795 Sapper795 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 297
Default

Hi Colin.
I stand corrected. Yes you are quite correct. Wow what a thing to forget. I now remember the officers wearing a “ cloth “ badge in the beret.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 03-12-20, 11:28 PM
Sapper795 Sapper795 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 297
Default

And by that I mean a flaming grenade “ cloth “ badge.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 04-12-20, 05:56 AM
engr9266's Avatar
engr9266 engr9266 is online now
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Costa Del BOGNOR REGIS by the Sea UK
Posts: 3,846
Default

I do not really know the answer to this... Officer's had to purchase many of their uniform items and this is just a guess maybe they are waiting for the bullion "Grenade" badge to arrive from the Officer outfitters??

Engr9266
__________________

JERRY
ROYAL ENGINEERS/BRITISH ARMY CORPS & SERVICES/BRITISH LEGION/ROYAL BRITISH LEGION (see albums)
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 04-12-20, 08:36 AM
Alan O's Avatar
Alan O Alan O is offline
Super Moderator
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 12,730
Default

I would not be surprised if this a was an affection of the regiment at that time. The Airborne Signals officers had their own badge variation in WW2.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 04-12-20, 11:07 AM
Mike_2817's Avatar
Mike_2817 Mike_2817 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 2,596
Default

RAOC Officers wore a Gilt Collar Badge on the beret till circa 1960 when the Bullion Badge was introduced and that includes RAOC Airborne Officers
__________________
Sua Tela Tonanti

Wanted Poppy Pins
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 04-12-20, 11:38 AM
grey_green_acorn's Avatar
grey_green_acorn grey_green_acorn is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Kent, UK
Posts: 5,821
Default

I think Alan is correct and wearing the RE cap badge in the maroon beret was a tradition in the Scottish based element (under various designations during the 1950s and 1960s) of 131 Engineer Regiment of the Territorial Army. There are a number of photos on the net including those in the opening post which show this. http://www.airbornesappersscotland.c...lery%20new.htm

See here for 131 history https://military.wikia.org/wiki/131_...oyal_Engineers

Tim
__________________
"Manui dat cognitio vires - Knowledge gives strength to the arm"
"Better to know it but not need it than to need it and not know it!"
"Have more than thou showest, speak less than thou knowest."
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

mhs link

All times are GMT. The time now is 11:51 AM.


Powered by: vBulletin
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.