Cap Badge Backing

Goddamnit where's the glue removal stuff.

EDIT - hold on though, before we do anything rash, how do we know the above Cpl Bird wasn't the object of ridicule from all his mates because he didn't have his hessian backing.

I've this minute stuck my hessian on!

Being a former Stafford, i'm adamant its more likely for it to be there than not.

All the period berets i've seen have it as do staffords badges on slouch hats worn by 1 Staffords in Burma.

Its an important badge to us representing a time when the regiment was forgotten on overseas and had to make uniforms from sack cloth and mail bags.

For PBI we'd rather you had it, its part of the groups kit.

Which answers the question in my mind - 'Why?', cheers Gadge!

Please refer here fo the correct Oxf & Bucks LI cap badge:

viewtopic.php?f=46&t=3849

Hi Fallingplate

Can you suggest any sources for the beret sized Oxf & Bucks cap badge. As I live in S Bucks now I was thinking of having it available as an alternate impression.

Ramsay
Most dealers do not know their arse from their elbow when it comes to 2 Oxf & Bucks LI cap badges, so in reality you can get them fairly cheaply at militaria markets/shows. You do have to hunt for them I'm afraid, there is no dealer per sae that flogs them on the internet. They do appear on Ebay from time to time though.

Generally they are sold a colloar dogs/shoulder titles in oposing pairs (remember when looking at the cap badge the large end of the hunting horn should be on the left). They may be silver or brass. The original source for the cap badges was from a regimental order stating:

Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire War Chronicle - 1940 - 1942
Regimental Infantry Training Centre
From June to 31st December 1940

Early in August Lieutenant-Colonels D.C Colvill DSO MC, commanding the 43rd, L.W Giles MC, commanding the 52nd and G.E Whittle MC, commanding the ITC, met at Cowley Barracks and agreed on certain items which were circulated to all battalions, as follows:

Steel Helmet: a flash to be painted on both sides, 2 1/2 inches by 2 inches, of the regimental colours, as worn by the 52nd in the First German War

Cap-badges: small shoulder title horn to be drawn by the quatermaster from ordnance, silvered privately and issued to the regiment at 2 1/2d.

I have found a number of brass ones in the past and had them 'silvered privately', this tends to be an expensive afair costing around £15 to £20 per cap badge!!!

The cheapest I have bought a silver cap badge for is £4, the most expensive (not including the ones I've had silvered) is £11, so it should not break the bank. You just have to hunt for them.

As I have hinted at in a previous post about 2 Oxf & Bucks LI Officers dress there are a number of Regimental affectations that need to be adhered to to get the 2 Oxf & Bucks LI impression correct no matter what rank.

I will have to check, but I may have a brass cap badge that would need to be silvered spare at home.

Andy Ansell

If you do get a brass one. Try this: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/INSTANT-SILVER-Am ... dZViewItem

It really does work!

Hi Andy

Thanks for the full reply. I would be interested if you have a spare badge or I will look out for one.
My intention was to do a private soldier impression. I will start with a field impression so that with a beret the rest of my uniform and equipment should transfer from my S Staffords impression.

Ramsay
I have checked and I do have a spare brass cap badge I'm willing to let you have.

Andy Ansell

Hi Andy

Thanks PM sent

Okay, last week on my way to "pocket" I stopped in to the Stafford Regt. Museum and they were kind enough to let me take pics of Major Cain's beret, so this is the real McCoy as they say.

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As you can see it looks like the holland cloth is wrapped around a peice of card and slipped in between the badge and the slider. I've had a stab at making one, pics to follow.

Cheers

Ranj

I used a drop of PVA to stick the cloth down, worked very well. It doesn't quite fit the same as the original becaue (I think) the slider on Major Cain's badge is attached higher up the badge. I used those nasty sharp bits of metal, where the scroll attaches to the rope, to clamp it in place. It's almost as if they were designed for it.........

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Ah, that's much neater than sticking raw cut (and fraying) edges to the back of the badge like I did. Thanks Ranj!

if thats major cains cap badge,, why isnt it bronzed?

if thats major cains cap badge,, why isnt it bronzed?

Sunday best?

if thats major cains cap badge,, why isnt it bronzed?

Thats a very good question... but there is a picture of him wearing it! Who knows!

BTW, Ranj... first dibs on some your spare cloth...

....2nd dibs, please?

....3rd dibs, please?

ranj,, you do know PVA is water soluable? ( spelling) if it rains it will fall apart, get some mitre fix from B+Q , its super glue with an activator to set it instantly, we joiners use it a lot, can be used on cloth and paper and is water proof.