WW1 CAP BADGE IDENTIFICATION WANTED

[bkristof]

Hi,

Can anyone provide info on this badge??

[Joe Sweeney]

7th Infantry Battalion CEF.

[bkristof]

why is it marked first then?

i don't understand that?

is it a volunteer badge?

[PhilB]

Because the 7 Bn CEF was the 1st British Columbia! Phil B

[Joe Sweeney]

Kristof,

Its a CEF Battalion Badge.

Is yours a Collar badge? Most cap badges had a whitemetal overlay for 1st BC.

The battalion was raised in British Columbia and became part of the 1st contigent (2nd Bde 1st Div.)

They called themselves the "1st British Columbia" and this is the Badge that the unit procured for themselves to wear. I believe that it was actually not officially sanctioned but it was the cap badge they wore.

Some of our BC members maybe able to add a lot more info.

Joe Sweeney

[bkristof]

Hi Joe,

it is a cap badge, but it hasn't been cleaned for 90 years !!!! it can be bimetal.

The 1 and british columbia are adapted on the maple leaf.

It came of an attic in Pops. There was a old amost completly rotten burlap bag full with badges (a WW1 private his collection?).

There are very rare badges in it. For example the labour corps badge (shovel, pix axe on badge).

[Bill Alexander]

Hello, The essentials have already been mentioned, but to clarify the following is of interest. When the Canadian government mobilized troops for the war in August/September of 1914, the Minister of Militia ignored an existing mobilization plan and simply called for volunteers. The result was thousands of soldiers from all across Canada flocking to the colours. However the systmematic call up of pre-existing militia units was abandonned. Most of the Canadian militia units lost a trained or semi-trained cadre of soldiers, and few units had enough strength to send an entire battalion to the concentration area, Valcartier. There were a few noteable excpetions, such as the 13th Bn, and 15th Bn, which were essentially the Royal Highlanders (Black Watch) of Canada and the 48th Highlanders of Canada militia units. (Valcartier itself was created out of nothing in the latter weeks of the summer of 1914. Troops were arriving as the camp was still being built.)

The result was a mass of un-organized manpower. Some organization had to be imposed on the CANADIAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE, and the Minister of Militia, Sam Hughes opted for a simple numerical designation, running from 1st Battalion to the 17th for the first, and at that time, only intended, Canadian contingent. Part of the numerical organization was done along geographic lines, with units being grouped by regional area of Canada. For example 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th were all Ontario based battalions, with the 1st from southwestern Ontario, 2nd from eastern Ontario, 3rd from central (Toronto area) of Ontario and the 4th from central Ontario, supposedly outside of Toronto area. The 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th were all from western Canada, the 5th "Western Cavalry", 6th Fort Garry Horse and 7th, 1st Battalion from British Columbia, 8th from Winnipeg and 9th from Edmonton and Alberta area. (the 1st through 5th and 7th, along with other higher numbers, were composite battalions, made up of volunteers from the regions indicated, and sometimes from outside of that area as well. Members of the 23rd North Pioneers from Parry Sound area ended up in the 1st, while volunteers from Sudbury/North Bay in the 97th Alqoquin Rifles ended up in the 4th and interestingly, made up nearly an entire company of the 15th (48th Highlanders of Canada).)

The 7th Battalion, 1st British Columbia was a unit composed of soldiers from the 6th Duke of Connaught's Own, the 88th Victoria Fusiliers, 11th Irish Fusiliers, the 50th Gordons, and the 104th Westminster Regiment, and some other British Columbia regiments. (Note the cavalry regiments of BC mostly contributed to the 5th Western Cavalry. The 50th Gordons also contributed to another composite unit, the 16th Battalion, The Canadian Scottish.) The "1st" comes from the fact that it was the first contingent recruited from the province. But, it was the 7th Battalion created in the overall scheme. There was a "2nd contingent" BC battalion, the 30th Battalion. It was recruited in a similar manner, drawing upon British Columbia/Vancouver area, rather than one specific militia regiment. The 30th Battalion was perpetuated by the Irish Fusiliers (Vancouver) Regiment after the war.

The 1st British Columbia Regiment existed for a short time in the post-war militia, when Vancouver area units were amalgamated to form the 1st British Columbia Regiment. These were the 6th DCOR and the 104th Westminster Rifles. Then in 1924, the 1st British Columbia Regiment was re-organized as the Duke of Connaughts Own Rifles, The Westminister Regiment and the Vancouver Regiment. The Vancouver Regiment was later amalgamated with the Irish Fusiliers which in turn was put on the supplementary order of battle in the 1960's.

The 7th Battalion 1st BC, is thus, the first CEF contingent recruited from the infantry militia units of the province of British Columbia in 1914.

The size of the badge in question would determine if it is a cap badge or a collar. Caps were made in bi-metal. Collars were made in mono-metal, usually a darkened finish, eg bronzed, or blackened. There are officer's collars which are bi-metal, but these would likely be silver on gilt finish. A measurement of width by height would establish if the badge in question is a cap or a collar.

[Broznitsky]

The "1st" comes from the fact that it was the first contingent recruited from the province. But, it was the 7th Battalion created in the overall scheme. There was a "2nd contingent" BC battalion, the 30th Battalion. It was recruited in a similar manner, drawing upon British Columbia/Vancouver area, rather than one specific militia regiment. The 30th Battalion was perpetuated by the Irish Fusiliers (Vancouver) Regiment after the war.

The 7th Battalion 1st BC, is thus, the first CEF contingent recruited from the infantry militia units of the province of British Columbia in 1914.

Thank you Bill for a very nice intro to establishment.

But, why wasn't the 29th (Vancouver) Btn known as #2, instead of the 30th? Perhaps because the 30th sailed a few months before, or was established slightly earlier? The 29th was fed by the DCORs and the Irish Fusiliers also, and recruited largely in Vancouver.

For some reason, the 30th became a reserve battalion and never saw action, whilst the 29th joined the Iron Sixth Brigade.

[Bill Alexander]

But, why wasn't the 29th (Vancouver) Btn known as #2, instead of the 30th? Perhaps because the 30th sailed a few months before, or was established slightly earlier?

There are a couple of possible answers. Both units were authorized by the same GO, which would make the 29th the senior battalion by the fact it was a lower number, and thus would have precedence over the 30th. However this is not a hard and fast rule as can be seen by the fate of many other CEF battalions.

The 29th was a Vancouver City battalion, recruited and led by an influential individual, Henry Seymour Tobin. He was a man of some importance and representing a battalion that represented western Canada's premier city, his battalion may have had priority over the 30th, a "provincial battalion". (For example, in comparison, many other Canadian cities had battalions representing them in the CEF. 14th Bn, 3rd Bn, 49th, etc.)

The badges for the 30th battalion appear to represent the evolution of the role of the unit. There are two badges for the 30th, the 2nd BC 30th Battalion badge and the 30th British Columbia badge. One may have been for the earlier, pre-redesignation badge of the 2nd BC Regt, and the later one may have been for the 30th Reinforcement Battalion. The 30th Reinforcement Bn was used for other reinforcements than infantry, but from the sources, was for the province of British Columbia units.

[Bill Alexander]

Sorry, meant to ask this as well.

Kristof, was there any other Canadian badges in the find? And, if so, could you tell us what they were? Thanks.

[bkristof]

I will try to get pics of them...