Cloth Shoulder Titles

[Ellen1914]

I was just wondering if anyone could tell me when the British Army started to use the cloth shoulder titles, I have reasearched it and all i have found is that it was 1916. But was it in time for the Somme or were they introduced after that?

Ellen

[FROGSMILE]

I was just wondering if anyone could tell me when the British Army started to use the cloth shoulder titles, I have reasearched it and all i have found is that it was 1916. But was it in time for the Somme or were they introduced after that?

Ellen

Ellen they were first used between 1902 and 1908 and then again after 1916, mainly I think after the battle of the Somme. They had the great advantage of not catching on the shoulder straps of the web equipment (that supported ammunition pouches etc), but they never fully replaced the brass badges (but were worn simultaneously by different units) and do not seem to have been especially popular.

If you require specific (i.e. detailed) dates as to when the cloth badges were authorised the best person to consult is member Joe Sweeney, who as an unrivalled collection of adminstrative orders (AOs) in which such things were recorded.

You can also get some good information vis this thread: http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=166968&hl=%2Bcloth+%2Btitles

[Jerry B]

Interesting question as I recently picked up a photo postcard showing a cloth ASC title in wear and wondered when it dated to.