Royal Regiment of Fusiliers

[sappersson]

Hi All.

Is there any difference between the Regiment badge and the brigade of fusiliers badge. I can't really tell from Mr Taylor's book. Thanks in Advance.

Cheers Paul.

[Alan O]

None what so ever.

[sappersson]

That was quick. Thanks Alan.

Cheers Paul

[Alan O]

The LI badge was unchanged as well. The Wessex, Lancastrian and the Yorkshire brigade badges continued in use as well past 1968 with TA units.

[leigh kitchen]

In 1972 I became aware of two variations of the badge, one which had the flat blade fittings pierced for the cotter pin, & one which had wire anodised loop fittings.

The type with loop fittings was a little "plumper" than the other, I don't think it looked quite as crisp.

As far as I could work out then the wire loop version was the older of the two badges & was'nt being issued at that time, I've always suspected it is the Fusilier Bde badge which carried on in RRF wear but was replaced within a few years by a new striking (Fusilier Bde / RRF badges were always snapping, either the flames bacame detached from the ball of the grenade or the long flat fittings came adrift.

I have 1950's or early 60's dated Fusilier Bde berets & hackles (RNF & RWarwick Fus)) which have the loop fittings badge & a 1970's RRF beret & hackle which has the flat fittings badge, plus a few other badges of various types knocking around somewhere.

I have an idea that one or other of these badges had a variation in that the Geordie & dragon in laurel wreath was mounted on the ball of the grenade by means of splayed flat blades rather than the circular "expanded rivet" type fitting.

[leigh kitchen]

Originally Posted by Alan O

The LI badge was unchanged as well. The Wessex, Lancastrian and the Yorkshire brigade badges continued in use as well past 1968 with TA units.

Taking it that the book's statement that the voided / unvoided area between the rose & the scroll on the "Yorkshire" badges indicates that the example is Yorkshire Bde or Yorkshire Vols is not accurate?
I've heard that view expressed but personally have no knowledge one way or the other.

[Alan O]

Let's put it this way: the voided version was certainly used when the Brigade was around. The voidless version was certainly used in the 1970s by the TA. However the sealed pattern cards make no such differention and were one and the same. The void appears to be a maker's variation and it would be very difficult to prove when the design changed. It could have been anytime before or after 1968.
This variation does allow a premium to be charged for the voided version.

[hagwalther]

Originally Posted by leigh kitchen

In 1972 I became aware of two variations of the badge, one which had the flat blade fittings pierced for the cotter pin, & one which had wire anodised loop fittings.

The type with loop fittings was a little "plumper" than the other, I don't think it looked quite as crisp.

As far as I could work out then the wire loop version was the older of the two badges & was'nt being issued at that time, I've always suspected it is the Fusilier Bde badge which carried on in RRF wear but was replaced within a few years by a new striking (Fusilier Bde / RRF badges were always snapping, either the flames bacame detached from the ball of the grenade or the long flat fittings came adrift.

I have 1950's or early 60's dated Fusilier Bde berets & hackles (RNF & RWarwick Fus)) which have the loop fittings badge & a 1970's RRF beret & hackle which has the flat fittings badge, plus a few other badges of various types knocking around somewhere.

I have an idea that one or other of these badges had a variation in that the Geordie & dragon in laurel wreath was mounted on the ball of the grenade by means of splayed flat blades rather than the circular "expanded rivet" type fitting.

Hi Leigh,

I agree with your point on lugs here re: wire lugs for Fusiliers Brigade and stamped lugs for Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. The other point is that the wire lugged badge (Fusiliers Brigade) uses a riveting device to hold the figure of St. George and the Dragon while the splayed blades device seems to be reserved for the stamped lugged (Royal Regiment of Fusiliers) badge.

Regards

Chris

[leigh kitchen]

Originally Posted by hagwalther

Hi Leigh,

I agree with your point on lugs here re: wire lugs for Fusiliers Brigade and stamped lugs for Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. The other point is that the wire lugged badge (Fusiliers Brigade) uses a riveting device to hold the figure of St. George and the Dragon while the splayed blades device seems to be reserved for the stamped lugged (Royal Regiment of Fusiliers) badge.

Regards

Chris

I'm thinking that all the bladed badges I saw during the 1970's were riveted, when it comes to the splayed blades fitting I think I have it on a gilded metal version.

I've just checked a bladed badge, it has the rivetted fitting, I can see the RNF & RWark Fus Brigade badged berets with their loop fitting badges but can't get to trhem at the moment - they're in a glass display case (IKEA chic) & blocked in by boxes badges, documents, caps & uniform - I'll mount an expedition to get to them soon.

Of note is that the device mounted on the bladed version is almost invariably a little off centre .

There were two distict manufacturers variations of the collar badges too, again, I took it that one was the old Fusilier Bde / RRF version, the other a later striking for RRF - again, what I took to be the latter were, I felt, a more attractive badge.

[leigh kitchen]

I realised where I'd seen the bladed central device version of the RRF badge - the stable belt badge.

[sappersson]

Hi Guys

You mean like the back of these two a/a fusiliers.

Cheers Paul

[REMEVMBEA1]

The Mercian Brigade badge was also used after the demise of Brigade badges being worn by the Mercian Volunteers.

[leigh kitchen]

Originally Posted by sappersson

Hi Guys

You mean like the back of these two a/a fusiliers.

Cheers Paul

The badge on the left isn't anodised aluminium though is it? It's a plated or gilded metal one?

The one I have also has the bladed fitting.

[sappersson]

Hi Leigh

It was listed as an anodised, but it's gone from the listings. I will post the link if it gets relisted.

Cheers Paul.

[Phillip Herring]

Originally Posted by sappersson

Hi Guys

You mean like the back of these two a/a fusiliers.

Cheers Paul

I have seen the metal version (left) for sale at the RRF Museum at The Tower.

Phil