Page 136 - The Royal Lancers Chapka 2018

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REGIMENTAL JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL LANCERS (QUEEN ELIZABETHS’ OWN)
Fig.5 41.7mm high, 47.5mm wide three loops lower two 26.4mm [RP]
The quality of ‘theatre’ made badges can vary; Fig.5 shows a finely made cast white metal arm badge, and the reverse of which would indicate that it has been cast from an original hallmarked silver arm badge, as you can see the indentations of the makers stamp and hallmark in the same location as seen in Fig.3.
It is worth mentioning at this point, that although initially arm badge wear was restricted to senior ranks, it is clear that wear extended fairly quickly to included JNCOs as a 1907 photo- graph taken in South Africa apparently exists of corporals and lance corporals wearing arm badges. It is most likely that Bent & Parker, did manufacture a white metal version pre-1914 for use by SNCOs as second best, also as the primary badge for the JNCOs. I would suggest that stocks of these white metal badges would have been held by the regiment, and purchased by NCOs as required, as there was no Ordnance entitlement to these.
The silver arm badges were issued by Ordnance for wear on full dress. In 1914 the issue of full dress ceased, and as a consequence so was the issue of silver arm badges. However, the wear of NCO arm badges by the regiment continued, but not at public expense and they were made of white metal. there was, to the best of my knowledge, not another silver arm badge manufactured for the regiment post 1914. That said, during WWI and for some years
after, there were apparently still some original silver arm badges being worn by SNCOs/WOs, and this would suggest that not all badges were returned to Ordnance in 1914, and it’s possible that only the stocks held by the Quartermaster were returned.
There was an unofficial smaller version of the arm badge for wear on tropical mess dress, and Fig.6 shows the RQMS and a SSM wearing it below their rank badges in Cairo 1922. It was a ‘theatre made’ cast silver badge, most likely of Egyptian manu- facture, which was worn with a scarlet backing cloth. The badge was worn both in Egypt and India.
Fig 7. 43.5 mm high, 49.7mm wide, three loops lower two 31,3mm [RP]
Fig.8 44mm high, 50.3mm wide, three loops lower two 27.8mm [RP]
The arm badge shown in Fig.7 is a post WWII example and was probably made by Firmin & Sons Ltd. and Fig.8 is the last version of the arm badge from a completely new die which was manufactured in Germany, probably in the mid 1950’s. Prior to the regiment amalgamating with the 12L in 1960 both these arm badges were being worn concurrently.
The arm badge was also utilised as a soldier’s pouch badge and as a bandsman’s card case badge, the later having a large scar- let backing cloth. On amalgamation in 1960 the newly formed 9/12L, selected Queen Adelaide’s Cypher as the design for their new buttons. In c.1988 Queen Adelaide’s Cypher was reintro- duced as a badge, which was very similar to the arm badge, but with the cypher surmounted by a St. Edward’s crown. It was struck in anodised aluminium (Staybrite) and was worn by WO2s on their No.2 Dress brown leather pouch (Fig.9).
Fig.6 [L&D – 9/12L Museum]
Fig. 9 Pouch badge [RP]