Page 118 - The Royal Lancers Chapka 2019

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REGIMENTAL JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL LANCERS (QUEEN ELIZABETHS’ OWN)
The Regimental Armoured Car Badge
In October 2019, the serving Regiment held a dinner to recog- nise the importance of ‘The Crew Commander’ (see Chapter 2 - Regimental Articles). The Rolls-Royce Armoured Car badge is still worn today by all WOs and below who have completed the long course that enables them to command a fighting vehicle: this article outlines the origins and history of the badge.
In 1926 the 12L were posted to Egypt, and in 1927 the regiment was informed that it had been chosen, along with the 11 H, to be the first of the cavalry regiments to be mechanized. It was to be a Cavalry Armoured Car Regiment, its role would be re- connaissance, and their training would commence in 1928. The 12L were to be trained on Rolls Royce Armoured Cars in Egypt by instructors from the 3rd and 5th Armoured Car Companies (ACC) of the Royal Tank Corps (RTC). Regimental instructors, officers and NCO’s, were to attend 6-month courses in Driving and Maintenance, and Gunnery at the RTC Training Schools at Bovington and Lulworth. It took three years for all Squadrons to complete conversion training; effectively a squadron a year. In May 1928 B Squadron was the first to exchange its horses for armoured cars. In April 1929 C Squadron began conversion followed by A Squadron in 1930, and by September all squad- rons were trained and in possession of their Armoured Cars. The Armoured Car ‘Crewman’s’ Badge commenced to be worn by B Squadron towards the end of 1928, by all ranks up to WO2 who had passed their trade tests. It is suggested that the same ap- plied to both C and A Squadrons in the same way. Photographs show the badge being worn on the mid-left arm by troopers and by NCOs on the upper right arm above their chevrons and arm badge. There is no evidence that the first badge was worn on a coloured backing cloth.
Two examples of the badge in wear are shown in figures 1 and 2. The earliest identified to date, Fig.1, is that of a trooper in Khaki Drill taken at Helmieh Camp, Egypt 1928 by P.G. Evrard a French photographer who produced a regimental album dur-
Fig 1 12L Main Gd. 1928 Egypt
ing that year. The badge without a coloured cloth backing, can be seen on the left arm above what appears to be a light ma- chine gun ‘LG Trade Badge’, and two Good Conduct chevrons. The second photograph Fig 2, which is of a Sergeant in Service Dress and is believed to have been taken after the Regiment had returned to the UK c.1935 possibly at Tidworth. The badge, again without a backing cloth, is clearly visible above the arm badge and chevrons. The Armoured Car Badges in Fig 1 and 2 seem to be of the same design as the ‘Crewman’s’ badges worn by the RTC Armoured Car Companies between 1920 and the early 1930’s, see Fig.4 A. It is suggested, based on the information to date, that the Regiment adopted the crewman’s badge from the RTC Armoured Car Companies, who had both trained them, and eventually handed their armoured cars over to them. The Regiment might have obtained the badges directly from them or had copies made locally.
Fig 2 12L Sgt. Tidworth 1935
Fig 3 12L SQMS Godden c.1954