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The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Remembered Today:

12th Bermondsey Battalion. East Surrey Regiment


IJDALLINGER

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Having had a relative serve during the Great War in the above Battalion, I have recently obtained two East Surrey Cap Badges. Can anyone help me ascertain which is the most likely pattern for the Great War, if both are original and if the 12th Battalion had any sort of specialised badge. Any help would be appreciated.

IMG_9910.jpg

IMG_9912.jpg

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Having had a relative serve during the Great War in the above Battalion, I have recently obtained two East Surrey Cap Badges. Can anyone help me ascertain which is the most likely pattern for the Great War, if both are original and if the 12th Battalion had any sort of specialised badge. Any help would be appreciated.

The left hand of the two badges is the most appropriate for WW1. It has he 'braize holes' at the back that were the most common badge manufacturing technique at that time. Later on that technique became less common and many badges of WW2 were without the holes.

The Wandsworth Battalion of the East Surrey's had a special badge, but the Bermondsey Battalion wore a standard East Surrey cap badge, as shown in your photos.

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Frogsmile, thanks for that. It is much appreciated.:thumbsup:

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They did wear a distinctive collar badge though. I cant show mine at present unfortunately.

That's interesting, was it the officers only, or were they one of the units where ORs wore collar badges on their SD in WW1?

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From History of the British Army Infantry Collar Badge by Colin Churchill 2001/2002 N & MP:

..this unit was raised by the personal effort of John Hart, the Mayor, and the Borough Council of Bermondsey. To mark the connection, War Office approval was received for members of the battalion to wear special collar badges bearing the Arms and Motto of the borough, granted by the College of Heralds, in 1901. In guilding-metal for other ranks and in bronze for Officers. These and a special cap badge were both supplied and paid for by the Mayor.

The Lion surmounting the Arms of the Borough was reversed on one of the collar badges so that they faced each other.

I can find no other reference to a special cap badge in Kipling & King or British Army Cap Badges of the First World War Doyle & Foster or elsewhere.

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From History of the British Army Infantry Collar Badge by Colin Churchill 2001/2002 N & MP:

..this unit was raised by the personal effort of John Hart, the Mayor, and the Borough Council of Bermondsey. To mark the connection, War Office approval was received for members of the battalion to wear special collar badges bearing the Arms and Motto of the borough, granted by the College of Heralds, in 1901. In guilding-metal for other ranks and in bronze for Officers. These and a special cap badge were both supplied and paid for by the Mayor.

The Lion surmounting the Arms of the Borough was reversed on one of the collar badges so that they faced each other.

I can find no other reference to a special cap badge in Kipling & King or British Army Cap Badges of the First World War Doyle & Foster or elsewhere.

Thanks Squirrel, that is very interesting. I was positive about the cap badge, I wonder what happened to prevent their production. It will be good to see a photo of the men in their collar badges, but I imagine that they are quite rare.

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I apologise for not being able to credit whoever owns or put this picture on the internet, but here's a pair being worn.

Thank you both for the image, it must be quite rare, I have certainly never seen one before.

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This pair were sold quite recently.

http://www.clanfield...ph=51455&phqu=2

Yes, the badges must be rare too, although I did not mean the badges so much as photos of the soldiers wearing them.

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