RAF (Iraq) Levies cap badges?

[Phil2M]

Hi guys,

I have just acquired the two badges, attached, could anybody tell me the significance of the variation, is one an officer and one an o/r?

I am sorry for the poor picture quality, I have not got the badges in hand yet.

Any other comments or opinions would be welcome. I am told that these two badges both originate from Mike Lukich. Both have 'Iraq' replaced with a spray of leaves.

I have read through the following thread: http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...ghlight=levies and looked at the following http://www.britairforce.com/raf_levies.htm

Thanks in advance for your help,

Regards

Phil

[SAS1]

They were all sand cast badges (at least in 30 years Ive never seen a die cast badge), and as such there are variations. This badge was worn by all ranks.

[Phil2M]

Cheers SAS. Appreciate your quick reply.

Happy New Year

Phil

[Eddie Parks]

I'd like to see better pictures before commenting.

But in general cast versions are correct - although I doubt the fine silver versions are "sand" cast. The silversmiths I talked to in Oman used cuttle fish shell to take female molds from original male objects.
Eddie

[Phil2M]

Thanks Eddie.

Thats a very neat idea to use cuttlefish bones.

I will post better pictures as soon as i can. It won't be for at least a few days.

Cheers

Phil

[SAS1]

I mean 'sand cast' as a generic term. You mention silver badges. Ive never come across one of these in silver anywhere, and of the two shown, both seem brass to me.

The levies did just wear the crossed daggers only as a cap badge in silver, and single daggers (i'm not sure of the correct term for them) on each shoulder, but these were generally hand worked rather than cast. I have a couple of each type.

If you or anyone else has a silver version of the above, I'd love to see it.

The Aden Protectorate Levies wore a similar badge but later, so might have been better cast/finished.

[Mike Jackson]

Some excellent information and images here:

http://militarybadgecollection.com/2....htm?nggpage=2

[Eddie Parks]

There is a silver badge pictured on my Iraq Levies thread: http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...ghlight=levies

And Mike if you take a look you'll see the site you mentioned starts with a cut and paste job from the same thread. Oh the joys of the www!

Eddie

[SAS1]

Eddie

The link doesnt work but I found the thread. As the silver version shown on the thread in question has a broach pin fixing, I'd hazard a guess its a sweetheart badge or broach rather than a cap badge.

I contacted a number of former members a few years ago and none had anything other than a brass badge, officers included.

[Eddie Parks]

Sorry about that - I've fixed it now. You may well be right about the silver badge, but personally I don't think so. Almost every British Arab unit badge I've ever come across - and that is a great number - has a pin back version, but of course by the time that badge was in wear the Levies were really an Assyrian rather than Arab unit and did not as a rule wear Arab head dress. Who knows ...

[Phil2M]

Hi guys,

As promised, here are the slightly better photos of the two badges I posted about.

Comments, good or bad, are welcome.

Cheers,

Phil

[Phil2M]

Just thought I would push this one up the list,

Cheers

Phil