Jim Clay Posted 19 July , 2004 Share Posted 19 July , 2004 Dear Pals The attached photo is of Arthur Watts who survived the War and married my partner's great aunt Debbie Cox in 1920. Can anyone identify his Regt from this pic? Best regards Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anthony Bagshaw Posted 19 July , 2004 Share Posted 19 July , 2004 Looks like the Kings Royal Rifle Corps (off the top of my head!!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Clay Posted 19 July , 2004 Author Share Posted 19 July , 2004 Anthony Many thanks for that lightning response!! All the best Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrB Posted 19 July , 2004 Share Posted 19 July , 2004 Dear Jim I agree with Anthony. The Kings Royal Rifle Corps, especially since there appears to be a patch of cloth (red) behind the badge. Other battlions of the London Regiment wore this type of badge, notably the 6th or the "Cast Iron 6th" They apparently did not a the patch behind the badge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staffsyeoman Posted 19 July , 2004 Share Posted 19 July , 2004 Just to concur - yup, it's the KRRC; the button swings it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Clay Posted 19 July , 2004 Author Share Posted 19 July , 2004 Phil and DrB Thank you both - KRRC it is then. I now await "W" in the MICs to see what else I can find (I'll also be looking for my several Webley gt-uncles) Cheers Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grovetown Posted 19 July , 2004 Share Posted 19 July , 2004 With respect to Phil, the button doesn't tell us anything other than it's a rifle(s) regiment: the 'strung bugle' button being almost universal amongst rifle and/or LI regiments. We need a definitive position on the patch, as it is 'king' (NPI) here. The Maltese Cross, again, forms the basis of many rifle regiment badges; and - beyond the KRRC and 6th London - it could easily be (without a higher res close up) that of the 9th London (Queen Victoria's Rifles) or (just about) the 11th London (Finsbury Rifles). The KKRC badge has its honours on the arms: can you see them Jim? As I say, a definitive position on the patch is necessary... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staffsyeoman Posted 20 July , 2004 Share Posted 20 July , 2004 Sorry, Grovetown - that IS a KRRC button; it's not just a generic RIFLES button as you impute. It's a KRRC button. Yes, the bugle is common - but there are differences in style between the regiments. The button tells us he is KRRC. I've been collecting military buttons for over 20 years; I know my buttons and wouldn't have said so if I were not sure! It is NOT the QVRs as they had their own buttons - St George on horseback, crown above. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grovetown Posted 20 July , 2004 Share Posted 20 July , 2004 Thanks Phil - I stand corrected. I didn't know London rifles had 'regimental' buttons. By the generic rifles button, you mean the ones below? The left hand one is from an RB tunic, the right hand one from a QVR one. To my untrained eye the one in the picture - on the SD rather than the greatcoat ones (which I can't discern) - was the same. Did the QVR wear the St George button on SD, as well as the generic one? If they did, can you recommend a specialist dealer who might produce a set? Also, what's does the KRRC button look like as I (honestly) can't tell from the picture? Thanks once again. Yours rifley, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Clay Posted 20 July , 2004 Author Share Posted 20 July , 2004 Phil and Rifley Let's not fall out <vbg> I've tried rescanning to get a better image of the cap badge and buttons but my highest res setting just ain't working, so here's the best I can get. Best wishes Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Clay Posted 20 July , 2004 Author Share Posted 20 July , 2004 ... and this (greatcoat button) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Clay Posted 20 July , 2004 Author Share Posted 20 July , 2004 .... and this. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grovetown Posted 20 July , 2004 Share Posted 20 July , 2004 Dear Jim No falling out going on here. I'm actually keen to learn about rifle regt. uniform/ insignia distinctions. Thanks for the better shot of the badge - definitely KRRC (after all that). (Although I still can't distinguish the button. Hey ho). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Clay Posted 20 July , 2004 Author Share Posted 20 July , 2004 Grovetown Glad to help - and thanks for yours! Cheers Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrB Posted 20 July , 2004 Share Posted 20 July , 2004 Yep, as I wrote...KRRC or ( The Kings Rich Rude Rifles) as the other army wags used to call them. The 9th and 11th Bns of the London Regt (Maltese Cross) did not have voided centers in their badges and the 12th had a wreath around their badge. Buttons? Seems like you will have an answer there as well. The Light Infantry Regts did not wear black horn buttons, they wore the standard issue on their service tunics. Incidentally the various rifle corps were also referred to as the "Black Button B------'s" by the rest of the army. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staffsyeoman Posted 20 July , 2004 Share Posted 20 July , 2004 Sorry folks... now calmed... the RB had a very similiar black horn button in WW1, but it had the letters RB within the bugle cords. The Finsbury Rifles cap badge was very different, smaller, and had PRO ARIS ET FOCIS (one word, each arm, starting at 9 o'clock). (Yup, the 'black button mafia' still exist - RGJ and/or Gurkha....) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now