WW1 ? R.A.M.C. medic/stretcher bearer arm band.

[Tom Westhead]

Good day all.

I recently came upon this medics armband with an R.A.M.C. WW1 pair and some other cloth insignia also R.A.M.C related.

I cannot confirm that all the cloth insignia were the personal items of my man, they were in a framed display.

My question is ?? Looking at the 3 attached images does the armband look WW1 period in its manufacture ? Or just old not of modern manufacture, say a re-enactors item.

I have looked closely at the white cloth/linen with images of old type cloth online and it does not look like modern cloth.

I have attached a closer image of the weave, the band does look like it is unissued, i.e. not soiled.

The red cross emblem appears to be some kind of felt.

This arm band sadly appears to have had it's length shortened, dimensions are below.

 

Length of arm band 230mm

Width at the middle of the band, red cross area 62mm

Widest at the end of band 70mm

Red Cross enblem 76mm across x 73mm top to bottom.

 

The armband looks like it has been streched and under tension hence the width difference across the band.

I must say looking over the limited images available online I think it may be a ww1 period item or old !

I apologise for the rough and ready images they were taken with mobile phone so the best I can do.

Many thanks in advance for looking at this unfamiliar item to me.

 

Any thoughts gratefully received,

Best Wishes,

Tom.

 

[Grovetown]

They do vary, but that's not like one I've ever seen. The cross is too big, and the fabric too open weave and cotton rather than linen.

The classic, issue Red Cross brassard can be seen here:

https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30070671

Image: IWM INS 743.

Cheers,

GT.

Edited 3 May , 2023 by Grovetown

[Tom Westhead]

Hi GT,

Many thanks for looking and your comments.

Maybe a home made item added to the display.

 

Again thank you.

Best wishes,

Tom.

[Tom Westhead]

For interest I did find this one online.

Cheers,

Tom.

[Grovetown]

8 minutes ago, Tom Westhead said:

For interest I did find this one online.

Cheers,

Tom.

As above, this fabric is the same as the issue one and more professionally made. Albeit very subjective, it has the look and feel of the period and a kind of 'patina' if you like.

Yours is, to my mind, at best very ersatz and not WW1 at that, or a repro for display and/ or re-enactment as you suggest.

Cheers,

GT.

[Tom Westhead]

GT,

Again thanks.

Points noted!

It does feel quite flimsy in the hand too.

Best,

Tom.