TV series: Regimental/ Bn. Cloth sleeve Patches 1914 and 1916

[stitchesoncelluloid]

Hello,

I have just begun working on a UK TV series about World War One. I am looking for visual references of the sleeve unit badges mainly, plus guidance on if this is effected by rank, if possible, for the following regiments, if anyone can please help? For clarity, I have added dates...

July 1916 (SOMME)

18th Manchesters (Ranks: Private, Captain, Lieutenant, Regimental Sergeant Major)

16th Manchesters (Private)

18th south Lancashire (Private)

2nd RSF - Royal Scottish Fusiliers

90th Brigade Scots (Officer and Private)

I'll also be needing info for the follwing, but the above is more urgent:

AUGUST 1914 (Battle of Mons)

4th Batallion (Private: Fusiliers, Artillery, Captain,Colonel, other officers and SUPPLY OFFICER)

57th (Private and Corporal in 'Engineers')

Any help vastly appreciated, I am not an expert in these things unlike you wonderful specialists! It's really important to me to make this correct as possible, so I do hope you might be able to help with your wonderful knowledge, I only have a few weeks to get this all together.

Thank you!

Hayley

[Rolfi]

Hello Hayley

I hope these notes are of some use. The signs were definitely in use in 1917, it's quite likely they were being used in 1916; the Liverpool Pals in 30th Division was using coloured flashes in that year.

RW

16th Manchesters: in 1917 the 16th wore a yellow over dark green rectangle two inches tall.

17th Manchesters: in 1917 a white over red disc, made of cotton two inches diameter.

18th Manchesters: two royal blue rectangles on the left sleeve only, one rectangle was two an quarter inches by three quarters of an inch, the other was one and a half by three quarters. (how they were arranged is anyone‘s guess, the T shape is mine)

19th Manchesters: a two inch tall dark green and orange isosceles triangle, worn on both sleeves.

11th South Lancashire Regiment: a dark red, buff and navy blue ribbon.

2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers: a tartan diamond on the right side of the helmet cover, July 1917.

[Muerrisch]

your Engineers "private" will be either a "sapper" or a "pioneer". I cannot resist the temptation to add that Engineers did not have privates. Pity really.

[KENDO]

Hi Grumpy

Further to your reply to Hayley can you tell me what the 16 Manchester's dimensions were wide as you described it as 2" tall.

Also did you fathom out the sign of the 18 Manchester's other than being a 'T' shape ?

Regards

Kendo

[wainfleet]

Hayley

The safe bet is to omit cloth unit signs altogether. They were not used at all in 1914 and were only starting to be used by July 1916, when the majority of units still didn't have them. If I were putting together this production I'd just go with plain brass Manchester and RSF/grenade titles unless you find evidence of specific signs in use at that date.

Regards, W.

[bill24chev]

your Engineers "private" will be either a "sapper" or a "pioneer". I cannot resist the temptation to add that Engineers did not have privates. Pity really.

reminds me of punchlines in old joke

foreign inspecting General to Female Cpl (Having been rebuked for calling various Gunners,Sappers Guardsmen etc Privates) "what do you call your Privates in the Women's Royal Army Corps)

Female Cpl's reply ^&&**%$ , Sir! (insert suitable slang for mons veneris)

[Uncle George]

reminds me of punchlines in old joke

foreign inspecting General to Female Cpl (Having been rebuked for calling various Gunners,Sappers Guardsmen etc Privates) "what do you call your Privates in the Women's Royal Army Corps)

Female Cpl's reply ^&&**%$ , Sir! (insert suitable slang for mons veneris)

FANYs?

[MBrockway]

Pals should note that Hayley's original post is from 2014 and that the programme she was researching for (Our World War) has already been made and aired

[Kitchener's Bugle]

your Engineers "private" will be either a "sapper" or a "pioneer". I cannot resist the temptation to add that Engineers did not have privates. Pity really.

They might have not had Privates but they sure did have some Balls!

[Kitchener's Bugle]

Pals should note that Hayley's original post is from 2014 and that the programme she was researching for (Our World War) has already been made and aired

A trailer....

You can watch all three episodes on You Tube at £1.89 each if you are interested.