Collar badges and shoulder titles on the field

[Cuirassier]

Hi,

I would like to know if in 1914 the British soldiers (officers, Enlisted men and NCOs) wore on their tunics collar badges and shoulder titles on the field.

Thanks in advance for your answer.

[Andrew Upton]

13 minutes ago, Cuirassier said:

...I would like to know if in 1914 the British soldiers (officers, Enlisted men and NCOs) wore on their tunics collar badges and shoulder titles on the field...

For the most part it would be correct to say that on Service Dress in 1914 collar badges weren't usually worn by OR's/NCO's whilst shoulder titles were worn, whilst officers generally did wear collar badges but not shoulder titles. This is a very broad generalization however, and if you had a specific unit in mind it would be easier to comment more accurately.

[Cuirassier]

4 minutes ago, Andrew Upton said:

For the most part it would be correct to say that on Service Dress in 1914 collar badges weren't usually worn by OR's/NCO's whilst shoulder titles were worn, whilst officers generally did wear collar badges but not shoulder titles. This is a very broad generalization however, and if you had a specific unit in mind it would be easier to comment more accurately.

Thank you for your reply.

The unit in question: the Northumberland Hussars.

[FROGSMILE]

54 minutes ago, Cuirassier said:

Thank you for your reply.

The unit in question: the Northumberland Hussars.

Interestingly the soldiers of cavalry regiments, both regular and auxiliary (i.e. Yeomanry) were more likely to wear collar badges, in addition to shoulder titles, although other factors like the theatre of war and supply chain could have a bearing on the practice in individual regiments.  I don’t know why this difference was so common, as in general the army wide clothing regulations had not provided (catered for) collar badges for wear with the drab serge service dress that was the standard field uniform.  In the early 1920s the situation changed, and as part of a conscious effort to smarten up service dress uniform, collar badges were adopted on service dress by all arms.

The newspaper article shows collar badges worn in 1915 and the other photo outside a stable shows collar badges worn after 1922. 

 

Edited 26 December , 2023 by FROGSMILE

[Cuirassier]

11 minutes ago, FROGSMILE said:

Interestingly the soldiers of cavalry regiments, both regular and auxiliary (i.e. Yeomanry) were more likely to wear collar badges, in addition to shoulder titles, although other factors like the theatre of war and supply chain could have a bearing on the practice in individual regiments.  I don’t know why this difference was so common as in general the army wide clothing regulations had not provided (catered for) collar badges for wear with the drab serge service dress that was the standard field uniform.  In the early 1920s the situation changed and as part of a conscious effort to smarten up service dress uniform, collar badges were adopted on service dress by all arms.

The newspaper article shows collar badges worn in 1915 and the other photo outside a stable shows collar badges worn after 1922. 

 

Very interesting. It's very appreciated.

[FROGSMILE]

4 hours ago, Cuirassier said:

Very interesting. It's very appreciated.

I’m glad to help.  As you can see things are not so clear cut.  Here is an individual soldier who served with the regiment within the 7th Division, plus an officer of the regiment in service dress.  Note that the officer has no collar badges with service dress, but the soldier does and yet has no shoulder titles.  Opposite to the more common scenario across the army. 

Edited 26 December , 2023 by FROGSMILE

[Cuirassier]

2 minutes ago, FROGSMILE said:

I’m glad to help.  As you can see things are not so clear cut.  Here is an individual soldier who served with the regiment within the 7th Division, plus an officer of the regiment in service dress.  Note thar the officer has no collar badges with service dress, but the soldier does.  Opposite to the more common scenario across the army. 

Indeed, things are not simple and cannot be cut with a knife.

[FROGSMILE]

12 minutes ago, Cuirassier said:

Indeed, things are not simple and cannot be cut with a knife.

Good luck with your search.  Here is a regimental group just before WW2, at which point they re-roled to become an artillery unit.

Note that the officer (and RSM) had ceased wearing the bronzed insignia of WW1 with service dress. 

Edited 26 December , 2023 by FROGSMILE

[Cuirassier]

22 minutes ago, FROGSMILE said:

Good luck with your search.  Here is a regimental group just before WW2, at which point they re-roled to become an artillery unit.

Note that the officer (and RSM) had ceased wearing the bronzed insignia of WW1 with service dress. 

Another great information. Thanks a lot for your help!

[exXIX]

If this helps, these are men of 12th (S) Battalion Yorkshire Regiment (Teesside Pioneers). As can be seen all men and Officers wore the 'Crossed Rifle and Pick Axe' on the tunic collar...Gaz

 

[FROGSMILE]

1 hour ago, exXIX said:

If this helps, these are men of 12th (S) Battalion Yorkshire Regiment (Teesside Pioneers). As can be seen all men and Officers wore the 'Crossed Rifle and Pick Axe' on the tunic collar...Gaz

 

That was a standard policy decision for all the infantry battalions assigned as divisional pioneers and one of the very few cases where the wearing of collar badges was specified by higher command.  In general infantry battalions were not supposed to wear collar badges as explained by Andrew.

It was also unusual that officers generally wore the same pattern of badge too, often in addition to their regimental collar badges.

 

 

 

Edited 1 January by FROGSMILE

[Cuirassier]

4 hours ago, FROGSMILE said:

That was a standard policy decision for all the infantry battalions assigned as divisional pioneers and one of the very few cases where the wearing of collar badges was specified by higher command.  In general infantry battalions were not supposed to wear collar badges as explained by Andrew.

It was also unusual that officers generally wore the same pattern of badge too, often in addition to their regimental collar badges.

 

 

 

Gentlemen,

Many thanks for your contribution to my post! It's very interesting.