cf159qj Posted 10 January , 2014 Posted 10 January , 2014 Can anyone identify this brass badge of crossed rifles for me please. It came with a trio to a private in the royal berkshire regiment who lost a leg in 1917. I thought it might be a marksmanship badge but thought they tended to be cloth and worn on the sleeve of a uniform. Any help great fully recieved Nick
Sepoy Posted 10 January , 2014 Posted 10 January , 2014 Yes it is a "Marksmans'" arm trade badge. Here is a Lance Corporal in the Buffs wearing one. Sepoy
cf159qj Posted 10 January , 2014 Author Posted 10 January , 2014 Many thanks for the rapid reply Sepoy. For my education is a marksman the same as a sniper or were they different trades. Also can someone more educated than myself what did the individual have to do to achieve such a badge? Thanks, Nick
Grovetown Posted 10 January , 2014 Posted 10 January , 2014 Yes it is a "Marksmans'" arm trade badge. Here is a Lance Corporal in the Buffs wearing one. Sepoy Great brassard - any ideas as to what it is? Cheers, GT.
Glengarry1950 Posted 10 January , 2014 Posted 10 January , 2014 Hi Nick, Yes I agree its the Marksman Badge. A wee bit history on this badge. Probably the best know skill badge in the British Army, it was first introduced by Royal Warrant in 1856 with the Corps of Instructors of Musketry. The earliest pattern crossed Muskets or long rifle was in cloth. Your badge is the second issue pattern of after 1890, it was Best Shot in each Company now Marksman. Your Badge was only in service until 1898 when it was replaces with the same crossed rifles but with a Five Pointed Star with a Rose in the centre, bottom two point of the star attached to the respective rifle stocks if I can get my scanner to work I will post photo details. Cheers Hiram
Muerrisch Posted 22 April , 2014 Posted 22 April , 2014 Hi Nick, Yes I agree its the Marksman Badge. A wee bit history on this badge. Probably the best know skill badge in the British Army, it was first introduced by Royal Warrant in 1856 with the Corps of Instructors of Musketry. The earliest pattern crossed Muskets or long rifle was in cloth. Your badge is the second issue pattern of after 1890, it was Best Shot in each Company now Marksman. Your Badge was only in service until 1898 when it was replaces with the same crossed rifles but with a Five Pointed Star with a Rose in the centre, bottom two point of the star attached to the respective rifle stocks if I can get my scanner to work I will post photo details. Cheers Hiram Don't know where the above came from: disregard! Incidentally marksman, crossed rifles, was authorised in our period as gilding metal OR worsted. Sepoy's fine portrait also shows a Regimental Police armband, a distance-judging star and one good-conduct badge
FROGSMILE Posted 23 April , 2014 Posted 23 April , 2014 Great brassard - any ideas as to what it is? Cheers, GT. The PC brassard stands for Provost Corporal, the deputy to the established Provost Sergeant. The PC was usually the senior of sometimes several Lance Corporals within the Provost Section. Very occasionally he might be a full Corporal. In some units the tradition grew of the armourer (usually) cutting out the letters from brass plate. This was usually a regular, or sometimes TF affectation that gave a fine display when highly polished. It was a tradition that continued in some regiments, including my own, until at least as late as the 1990s.
Sepoy Posted 24 April , 2014 Posted 24 April , 2014 Following a request from Grumpy regarding post 2, here is the complete photograph
Muerrisch Posted 24 April , 2014 Posted 24 April , 2014 Many thanks indeed, I think we agree that it is probably immediately pre-war? My understanding is that only regulars wore the distance-judging star so this makes them 1st battalion I believe.
Glengarry1950 Posted 4 May , 2014 Posted 4 May , 2014 If you have no idea where something comes from try asking the individual who posted it, or are you to arrogant and full of you on stuff do that. To tell some one on your authority, to disregard it, is beyond arrogance its dam right rude and shows a total disregard for other peoples views and sources of information. For you information the information is openly available in the book entitled "British Army Proficiency Badges" by Denis Edwards and David Langley 1984 I.S.B.N.0 9509427.0.7 this book is a definitive study of British Army Proficiency Badges each badge being illustrated also most with a period photograph of the badge being worn and a short description and history of the said badge. Incidentally the STAR badge 5 points, can be confusing as it was first issued in 1881 as the " Efficiency Badge (Volunteers) the first Star being issued to the soldier for 5 years efficiency in rifle drill and practice no necessarily consecutively, this was changed to 4 years on TA Regulations 1908 and as late as 1936 TA regulation were giving guidance on the correct position of wearing the star or stars, up to 6 stars could be worn. The Distance judging Star was issued in 1904 to Regular Army VERY similar to the Volunteer efficiency star and worn in the same position on the arm, its careful identification is therefore worth attempting, each soldier once qualified would be tested every three months and withdrawn if no longer eligible at the end of each year, the badge was abolished ACI 1921. Hiram
Glengarry1950 Posted 4 May , 2014 Posted 4 May , 2014 Hi GT, Thanks for that he must be getting far to Grumpy when he fails to recognise his own work as an authority or may be Denis Edwards completed that part ? Kind regards Hiram
Muerrisch Posted 4 May , 2014 Posted 4 May , 2014 Hiram, just a simple question then for starters: since when did the marksman badge morph as in: Badge was only in service until 1898 when it was replaced with the same crossed rifles but with a Five Pointed Star with a Rose in the centre, bottom two point of the star attached to the respective rifle stocks i
Muerrisch Posted 15 May , 2014 Posted 15 May , 2014 Hiram, I have written a well-received booklet specifically on the "trade" badges of the Great War. If you wish to become equally knowledgeable please PM me, something can be arranged.
Beerhunter Posted 21 May , 2014 Posted 21 May , 2014 For my education is a marksman the same as a sniper or were they different trades. They are different. Obviously in order to be a sniper one needs to be a good shot but there is more to sniping than that, including Fieldcraft.
mark holden Posted 21 May , 2014 Posted 21 May , 2014 There are currently seven tests to pass to become a 'badged' British Army Sniper of which marksmanship is just one.
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