pips

[museumtom]

Are there different types of pips used on officers epaulettes? Are they the same since they were introduced or are there different types and models? If they are the same ...then are they the same the world over or do different countries have different types. What does the marking on them mean and why are they this shape.

These are questions that have puzzled me for years.........................yep I am a sad old git, but whaddya gonna do as Homer Simpson would say.

Any clarification to these posers would be most gratefully recieved.

Many thanks.

Regards.

Tom.

[Greg1]

Dear Tom,

There have been a number of threads on this before I think. For British and Commonwealth armies the norm is the jewel of the military division of the order of the Bath. This is known as the Bath Star.

Size and nature vary. Some are embroidered in gold and coloured thread,silver (light infatry),black (rifle regiments) ( patrols for example) or worsted embroidery(battledress) or gilt metal with enamel or gilt metal or bronzed metal. The latest incarnation is embroidered on to rank slides worn with modern combat dress.Sizes vary from army to army and according to item of dress. Greatcoats used to have much larger variants for example. Armies which had an imperial origin but have become republican often keep the same general arrangement of ranks but replace the Bath Star with another design- se the Rhodesian pip for example or the Indian pip. Crowns are also replaced by another item generally drawn from the coat of arms of the state concerned so in India the three headed lion is used, whilst in Rhodesiaq thee Lion and Tusk crest was used.,

Some regiments notably the guards use the jewels of different orders the Garter, St Patrick and St Andrew.

Some police forces also use the Bath Star in silver although there are also a variety of six pointed stars used for the same purpose and in the same arrangment as the military ranks although they have different titles and variation is more common.

The jewel bears the motto Tria Juncta in Uno( three joined in one) around three crowns on a Maltese crosssurrounded by laurel wreath and all on a star

Greg

[BeppoSapone]

Size and nature vary. Some are embroidered in gold and coloured thread,silver (light infatry),black (rifle regiments) ( patrols for example) or worsted embroidery(battledress) or gilt metal with enamel or gilt metal or bronzed metal. The latest incarnation is embroidered on to rank slides worn with modern combat dress.

A lot of the cloth pips and crowns worn on battledress were in Corps colours.