Page 70 - RADC Bulletin 2021

Fig 9 & 10 – Southern Command formation patch (dental printed (left) and woven (right))
on both sleeves with the green end facing forwards. In 1941 the regulations changed requiring the strips on BD sleeves to be moved to a position 31⁄2” from the top of the sleeve to allow room for a formation badge to be worn above it.
Uniquely, Southern Command’s formation badge was produced with eighteen variations in colours which reflected the
Arm of Service strip of an individual’s unit. Consequently, AD CORPS/RADC personnel in Southern Command wore a green and white formation badge on their BD but no Arm of Service strip. As well as being printed or woven, there appear to have been two designs (Figs 9 & 10) although whether they were used concurrently or not is unclear.
CLOTH SHOULDER DESIGNATIONS
In 1943 woven or printed cloth shoulder designations which had previously been discontinued in 1907 in favour of metal titles, were reintroduced for wear on BD. These were to be sewn at the top of each sleeve just below the seam. For The Army Dental Corps their design was AD CORPS in red lettering on a green background. These were produced in both printed (Fig 11) and woven versions. (Fig 12)
Fig 11 & 12 – ADCORPS shoulder designation printed and woven
Fig 13 & 14 – RADC shoulder designation blue and green
When in 1946, the Corps received its “Royal” designation, the red lettering was changed to RADC and, because of the change in colour of regimental facing, the background colour was changed to blue. (Fig 13) On reversion to green regimental facings the background material colour changed back to green. (Fig 14)
LANYARD
Prior to the 1950s regimental lanyards were authorised at public expense to very few units. It had, however, become widespread practice for individuals and units to adopt unofficial lanyards procured at personal or unit expense. Some were so ‘unofficial’ that they were only worn whilst on Home Leave and then removed on return to duty! Whilst some sources quote 1952 as the date of introduction of the RADC’s lanyard, the ACI No 584 of 1953 dated 14 October 1953 lists new lanyards that were being introduced to replace those being worn prior to October 1953. The ACI states that the new pattern lanyards will replace the present pattern lanyard (Cat No CC 0540) where this is in issue. It also states that the RADC is to be issued with a green lanyard (Cat No CC 1466) on a scale of one each to all Other Ranks.
Unfortunately, the ACI does not identify the units where a lanyard is currently in issue, however, a photograph of the RADC contingent for the coronation on 2 June 1953 which as well as showing one officer and seven soldiers in No 1 Dress in which lanyards are not worn also shows another
Fig 15 – Dental Officer in India early 1930s
soldier in BD who is also not wearing a lanyard. However, at Fig 15, a dental officer in India in the early 1930s is wearing a lanyard and in Fig 16, a dental officer in Service Dress in 1944 is also wearing a lanyard whilst the dental officer in BD is not. This suggests that officers, at least, were wearing a lanyard on some forms of dress well before the June 1953 ACI. How long after the publication of the ACI it was before units received stocks of the new lanyard for widespread issue to soldiers is unclear.
Officers’ lanyards had to be purchased from Regimental Tailors and were of
a slightly different design with a clasp attached to the end inserted into the breast
68 RADC BULLETIN 2021
Fig 16 – Dental Officers in UK 1944
HISTORY