Calgary Highlanders Badge Variations

[GregN]

Hi all, I was looking at some of my collection today and was amazed at the number of variation of the Calgary Highlanders badge I have. I thought I'd post some picks along with some notes on each. as always, if there are additional examples which are different, please add them to my post.

Cheers,

Greg

[Bill A]

Greg, that one officer's badge looks very familiar?
Nice accumulation of badges. Why does the unit have so many varieties?

[GregN]

Badge 1 is a cast brass them gilted and chased ORs? badge. If is a better quality than the standard ORs version. It is marked T.Miles, London on the back and I have never seen this maker before. In fact, aside from the officers OSD badge marked W.Scully Montreal, it is the only badge with a makers mark.

Badge 2 is a pipers/officers silver plated example. In this case it appears to be just a plated ORs issue. I have seen all silver versions, marked Sterling and W. Scully, Montreal, but I do not have one in my collection.

Badge 3 is a high quality cast badge with silver plated overlays. The lugs are thicker (officers quality?) and the overlays are pinned to the reverse. The badge is browned and laquered. It "feels" like an officers badge but I'm not sure.

Badge 4 is an officers OSD badge, marked W. Scully Montreal on the back. It is in bronze with frosted silver overlays which are pinned through the badge.

Badge 5 is an ORs version. White metal overlays are pinned through the badge but they are not wire, more like a rivet when when pressed together secures the overlay to the badge. The lugs are flat, have a tear drop shape and an odd square shoulder to them. I have several of this type so I guess this is a common version.

The next scans show the reverses and lug details.

Cheers,

Greg

[GregN]

Yes Bill, you'll always be my OBSD*

The standard finish on these badges seems to be a bronze colour with white metal silver overlays. Mint badges have a bronze paint applied to them which in many cases was completely removed by the soldiers. I don't think the badge was ever polished bright, but the vets didn't seem to like the brown paint. Perhaps someone can confirm this.

I didn't include collar badges but they are a miniature of the badge. They come in a OSD version and in sterling silver. There is a left and a right (the beavers face in) and the top banner says FIRST BATTALION. I have Kings and Queens crown versions including a matched set with Kings Crowns, push pins with clutch buttons and marked Balfour. As this is a contemporary maker so I'm not sure if this set is a reinacter set or maybe the regiment currently wears Kings Crown, First Battalion collar badges.

There "CH" shoulder titles and the CH on the oak leaf titles. Again, I hope someone can confirm which battalion wore the oakleave shoulder titles.

Cheers,

Greg

"officers badge suger daddy"

[Dwayne H]

...Still don't quite understand the brass and white metal version. Was this used by certain members. The Officers sterling badge is made by Gaunt and based on the Hallmark was made in Birmingham in 1943.

The officers collars are perhaps the nicest I own . The detail on these is incredible.

Dwayne

[GregN]

NICE officers badge Dwayne The collars are SWEET!, I note that they do not say First Battn on them. A set I have does and the beavers are separately attached.

The 2nd badge is like a version I have. The brass one is a variation I don't think I have.

Cheers,

Greg

[jim a]

Nice job fellas on the posting of these badges... the quality of the badges plus the quality of the photo's is a great help to the rest of us for reference. Plus it's nice to see what other collectors have. thanks for showing... Jim