WW1 Pioneer Battalion collar insignia

[Guest]

Hi,

Does anyone know where I can get more information on the history of the crossed rifle and pick collar insignia worn by WW1 Pioneer Battalions?

Regards

Eric

[FROGSMILE]

1 hour ago, Eric Darley said:

Hi,

Does anyone know where I can get more information on the history of the crossed rifle and pick collar insignia worn by WW1 Pioneer Battalions?

Regards

Eric

The design relates to the Pioneers of the British Indian Army who preceded the WW1 pioneer battalions but who were their inspiration.  These Indian units with British officers (there were also Indian officers in an intermediate level below them) were unusual in that they were trained as infantry as well as in labouring tasks that would assist a field force operating in country with little infrastructure, to manoeuvre.  It did so by clearing roadways, or creating them where necessary, assisting engineers during bridge and railway construction, and any other semi-skilled labouring tasks that helped an army operate in the field.  The principal requirement was that in addition to these labouring tasks, the pioneer units could and would bolster the combatant strength of mobile columns by also acting as infantry whenever necessary.  Their role was very successful and they became firm favourites of Field Marshal Lord Roberts (“Bobs”), at the time the military CinC in India as a General, who firmly supported their utility.  

In 1915 it was decided that such units, on a ratio of one per division would be useful in the Army’s of France and Flanders as the trench stalemate set in to both assist with existing entrenchments, but more importantly create new ones swiftly by reversing captured stretches of the enemy lines and defending them in the face of the inevitable and famous German counterattacks, thus allowing the infantry brigades to exploit forwards.  This role was particularly expected to form a part of the July 1916 Somme Battles.  Eventually the battalion’s became involved in forward road maintenance and even narrow gauge railways.  These were similar to some roles carried out by the Labour Corps who generally operated further back.

The insignia adopted by the Indian Army pioneer units had utilised the important digging implements in addition to the more famous crossed axes (the latter of Napoleonic origin) and when a means of identification for WW1 pioneer battalions was considered it was settled upon that a crossed pick and rifle collar insignia would be adopted with the rifle representing the infantry skills and the pick the semi-skilled labour.  

From the outset it was envisaged that these battalions would exploit those regions of Britain with large communities of miners (especially), road, canal and railway gangers, foresters and any other labouring trades that required upper body strength.  These areas became the focus of recruiting efforts but within the bounds of the local regimental area.  Ergo, for just one example, the several pioneer battalions raised by the Durham Light Infantry from pit areas.  Similar units were raised in British Dominions, including New Zealand, which formed some discrete pioneer battalions from very fine Māori soldiers.

NB.  I first carried out this research when tasked to do so during the transition of 23 Group Royal Pioneers to become 23 Regiment Royal Logistic Corps in 1994.  The new regiment was to function under a very similar remit and so initially the crossed rifle and pick, with numerals 23 beneath, was chosen as the new regiment’s crest, whilst it’s soldiers continued to undergo phase 1 infantry training. It remained so for a few years until full infantry training was abolished (as too costly) and the crest was replaced by an arrangement of crossed axes with a central pioneer hanger (short sword with toothed edge) that had been a central feature of the second pattern (and recent) cap badge of the erstwhile Royal Pioneers.

Edited 5 January , 2022 by FROGSMILE

[charlie2]

As usual, a very interesting and informative post, thank you Frogsmile.

Charlie

[FROGSMILE]

8 hours ago, charlie2 said:

As usual, a very interesting and informative post, thank you Frogsmile.

Charlie

Thank you for taking the trouble to comment Charlie.  For @Eric Darley:  further to the details I’ve explained above, according to Colin Churchill’s definitive work on collar badges the crossed rifle and pick badge was introduced under Pattern No.8365 and sealed in 1915.

[Guest]

Hi Frogsmile,

Really appreciate this information as I have not been able to get a definitive answer until now.

Regards

Eric

[FROGSMILE]

19 minutes ago, Eric Darley said:

Hi Frogsmile,

Really appreciate this information as I have not been able to get a definitive answer until now.

Regards

Eric

I’m glad to have been of help.