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The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Remembered Today:

brassards, armlets, armbands


Muerrisch

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Two Signallers Armbands

1 is an officers brassard, (Captain) with the added motif to the (Scottish) Div Sig Coy. R.E. (in my collection)

The second to to the 57th (West Lancashire) Div Sig Coy. R.E. which resides in the Imperial War Museum

Does anybody know of any more instances of these added insignia?

Guy

Here is a small part of a photograph, that I was given when I purchased a pocket watch.

I have the full sized photo with both of them standing.

The watch belonged to a officer of the Suffolk Regiment, in the photo he is standing next to his father who was The acting Major of the Suffolk regiment at the time 1917.

It is a very nice photo to have with the watch.

Sold to me by his son.

post-6628-1169811501.jpg

Jonathan

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Here is a small part of a photograph, that I was given when I purchased a pocket watch.

I have the full sized photo with both of them standing.

The watch belonged to a officer of the Suffolk Regiment, in the photo he is standing next to his father who was The acting Major of the Suffolk regiment at the time 1917.

It is a very nice photo to have with the watch.

Sold to me by his son.

post-6628-1169811501.jpg

Jonathan

Jonathan - 14th (Light) Division. Nice image.

Guy - very nice and interesting brassards too.

Best wishes,

Grovetown.

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Hi Tanks,

I haven't forgotten that Salvage Battalion SD tunic. I spoke with the owner last week and all I need to do now is find the time to drive over to his village and photograph it!

Coming soon... watch this space.

Cheers,

Taff

Taff - when you said chequered insignia in the earlier post, you didn't mean 34th Div did you?

Best wishes,

Grovetown.

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All these men wear the RMP armband, but it is only clear on the older man, suggesting the others have letters in a different colour.

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k116/ras...ng/lastscan.jpg

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  • 1 month later...
two more for you:

I was just revieiwng the brassards thread after a long time away from the site and saw the GMP armband which sparked some memories. During my service in the 70's and 80's until they privatised and commercialised the function, two or three of the major Barracks here in Australia used to have Junior NCO "Garrison Military Police" seconded from the major units/BN's, the NCO wore cotton/polyester armbands with felt lettering in the pattern of the image. They tended to get a bit of a beating with the iron by good aspiring infantry and artillery NCO. Though an infantryman, I was never a good or an aspiring NCO, though the image does look supiciously like one of the armbands I wore in 1984 during my three months as a GMP at Enoggera Barracks!

cheers,

Chris

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Hi Grovetown,

No, it's not 34 Div. The chequered patch is on the shoulder strap; from memory it is the marking of a Tank Salvage Battalion... it's actually more of a dog-tooth check from memory. Apparantly the guy had a similar bit of cloth glued to the front of his Brodie too but the family who still have the Brodie) say it fell off years ago and they lost it.

Sorry for the delay in repying!

Cheers,

Taff

"Taff - when you said chequered insignia in the earlier post, you didn't mean 34th Div did you?

Best wishes,

Grovetown"

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  • 2 weeks later...

I have just been going over this thread and the one on Staff Armbands (http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=43257&hl) and note that the relationship with identifying flags for HQ and units has not been made.

In the staff armbands thread Anthony Pigott asked about the origins of these armbands, could I offer the hypothesis that they were originally an extension of the identifying flags of various levels of HQ and so on, as shown in the "Field Service Pocketooks" which of course weren't meant to be quoted as authority's! I would also add that the gorgets thread is probably directly related as well.

I would suggest that the brassards/armlets were intially meant to identify the staff officers of those HQ and selected specialists, like the Sigs Office. With an Army of many million of men from across the Empire it became necessary to extend the program (as Joe Sweeney has listed) to identify the vast number of specialist officers and troops carrying out their duties "In the Field" performing their duties, brassards/armbands being the simplest form of doing so. I would suggest they were only worn when away from their normal location (where the flag or sign would identify them) or there were many hundreds of troops mixing.

In a modern analogy my father as an Australian Army MCO form the 60's-70's would put on his brassard when conducting his function at an air, rail or road heads and so on. The same as Signals Delivery Service riders and drivers would wear theirs when on SDS duties during that time.

cheers,

Chris

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Hi Tanks3,

Dave has said it's no problem for me to call round an photograph all the stuff including the tunic but he lives in the middle of nowhere so it's just a case of me finding the time to do it...

Watch this space!

Taff

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  • 2 months later...
  • 2 weeks later...

Hthis may be my first post but here goes

i am trying to make some staff officer armbands but i am finding nothing out as yet on this thread but can anyone tell me what would the correct armband be for an ramc medical staff officer be rank of major or captain. were there many different versions pending their job has anyone got any pictures or links for the design of all the medical staff types {might do one of each}

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  • 3 weeks later...

Can anyone identify the brassard illustrated below?

The style is similar to that of the Derby Scheme, but, as can be seen, the colour and size are different.

I suspect that it may be something like a WWII Womens' Land Army armlet, but I though I'd ask here, just in case.

Thanks

Tom the Walrus

brassard1.jpg

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Hi,

I just saw this armband on the well known sell, buy site. Red, White, Red with the letters S.T. Apparently Ships Transport Officer, which would make sense, countries like mine, Australia, used officers in this function a lot. The seller is saying it is WW2, which is probably right, but I would contend it was then therefore based on WW1 precedence and usage.

cheers,

Chris

post-6813-1184385352.jpg

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In addition to the ST brassard above. These ones were also known to my source:

1. Red over Dark green with a black MP in centre (Military Police ?)

2. White with red letters A.D.J.T. (Adjutant?)

3. Royal Blue with black letter S (?)

4. Dark green with black ST (Ships Transport again but different rank?)

5. Green over grey over Green - no letters

6. White with red letters MLO (Movement Liaison Officer?)

7. Red over green with black Q (Q Store?)

8. Green over red over green - not letters

9. Red with old type cannon in centre (?)

10. Royal blue with black letter V (Veterinary Officer ?)

11. Red with black letters BM (Brigade Major?)

12. Red with black bursting grenade (?)

13. Red with black letter G (?)

14. Dark green with black letters (FSP (Field Security Police ?)

15. Red over dark green with black letters CAMP (?)

16. Royal blue with black letters MG (Machine Gun Officer ?)

17. Red over dark green with black letters ST (Ships Transport again - different officer/duty?)

I would dare say they arise from some late 20's - mid 30's WO Directive,

cheers,

Chris

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  • 2 months later...

Grumpy, here are some more to assimilate.(not so much the images in this post, but perhaps the next lot)

I have dragged out most of the armbands I could find and hope they are of interest.

The first images shows 1. General Staff branch (?). 2. ST Supply and Transport. 3. Military Police

In the second image 4. (Is marked on the rear in blue pencil, "B.S.M. or T.S.M.") 5. Battery Sergeant Major. 6. Administration & Quartermaster.

If you want to see better images, just ask.

post-6040-1191030178.jpg

post-6040-1191030197.jpg

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And the rest,

7. Traffic (?) 8. Veterinary Services, 9. Scout (1917) and ..

10. No idea (it is made of cotton), 11. No idea. 12. the Vets one again

post-6040-1191030894.jpg

post-6040-1191030908.jpg

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Very nice contribution. I am busy trying to complete an article for Stand To! at the moment, but getting up to speed on armlets will be an early priority after that.

Thank you.

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  • 8 months later...

From SS135.] dated Nov 1918, App L, para 2:-

2. In addition the following distinguishing marks should be worn:-

Scouts ............ ..........................................Green band

Runners .................................................... Red band

Regimental and Company Signallers ........... Blue band

Carrying Parties ........................................ Yellow band

Salvage Parties ......................................... Khaki band with "Salvage" in red letters

These bands will be 1 1/2 in wide, and will be worn round the left forearm. /end quote

Note that these armlets are for the assault troops during an attack.

cheers,

Chris

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  • 1 year later...

I realise that I am re-visiting after a long time, but anything surface on Chaplain's armbands at all? I searched on the forum but no luck.

regards

Matt

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http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/forums/sh...read.php?t=8621

Also a Cross Pattee in black on a purple armband in the Royal Army Chaplain's Museum collection, which if not WW1 must be pre 1930 badge re-design. In addition I have a photo of the Staff Chaplain 8th Army c.1942 wearing one in the Western Desert, its bi-colour but unable to ID colours as yet.

*edit* Just found reference to one in the memoirs of the daughter of a chaplain at Mumbles near Swansea. Her father wore a purple armband with O.C.F. on it for gaining access to the army camp where he was a civilain "Officiating Chaplain".

Regards

Matt

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