Hi Can someone please tell me the difference between Royal Field Artillery/ Royal Artillery cap badges and insignia....if there is any? I have a cap badge with the spinning wheel. What is the difference between this and the fixed wheel badges? Thanks in advance for any help on the above.
As an ex RA man from December '42 till December '44 I believe there was no difference other than individual regiments choosing either one of the two variations. In the snap below I don't remember the wheel being able to spin. Having said that, I'm quite happy for someone to pop up and tell me otherwise Ron
Hi Ron I am not sure if they were modified by individuals or not....could this be a WW1 badge? Long shot but did you know a man called ' Jack Pennyfather' in Africa? I believe he became a Battery Sgt Major. He married into our family. Regards Chris
Chris Long shot but did you know a man called ' Jack Pennyfather' in Africa? I believe he became a Battery Sgt Major. He married into our family. Sorry................... I remember all my Sgt.Major's names and Pennyfather wasn't one of them As far as modification is concerned, I doubt if individuals would have been allowed or have been capable of making what would have been a difficult job, but again, I am open to contradiction. Ron
Rob I think we've discussed this before somewhere on the forum, perhaps someone can find the thread ? In the snap below I'm sporting the "grenade" but for the life of me I can't remember what the significance was or the ruling on which badge was worm. I'm sure that someone will come up with the right link that will explain everything Besat regards Ron
As i understand it the RA Grenade (Collar) was used as a cap badge simply because the 'early' gun&wheel badge was considered to big for OR's caps, and the spinning wheel was an adapted version for Officers & Sergeants and often given to wife's as a sweetheart badge. Rob
Hi Rob Thanks for the info on the spinning wheel. I have so much stuff infront of me that i dont know anything about, so i am starting as of now to get info. Regards Chris
Gaylor's Military Badge Collecting: In 1941 it was felt that the gun badge was too large for the field-service cap and authority was given for the grenade collar badge to be worn in its place Its use obviously carried over to the GS Cap. Gaylor 's take on the fixed v spinning wheel is that there was no distinction, badges of either type could be issued. The RA gun badge was worn pre-war by Field, Coast and Garrison units, also by the RHA at times.
From; An introduction to millitary Badge collecting: Things To Look Out For Some badges have special editions for officer and sergeant's ranks, such as the 'Royal Artillery having a spinning gun carriage wheel. Some regiments even had silver badges made for their officers.