British Cap Badges

[sexyhamburger]

So lately I've been reading everything I can regarding the Parachute Regiment and I've noticed that there's like three different cap badges they use, a black one, a pewter one and a silver one (these are guesses, i don't know what they're made of). After a little searching I've noticed the Royal Marines also have different cap badges. My question is, do all regiments have multiple cap badges? And what are they for? I'm assuming one is for field ops, one for garrison etc, but please correct me if i'm wrong. thanks!

[snapper036]

no
they just black them out with paint, as it is more tactical and non reflective

[gaijinsamurai]

Some time ago, the british army went to the "stay-brite" (cheap hard plastic) material for their regimental badges, presumably (?) to cut costs. Compared to WWII and earlier cap badges, they are not as appealling. Also, if you'll notice, a lot of badges will have either a "King's Cross" or "Queen's Cross", depending on the gender of the monarch at the time.

[baboon6]

In some regiments and corps, officers wear an embroidered badge on their berets while soldiers wear metal stay-brite badges. There are also sometimes differences in the badges worn on No.1 dress caps (which are also worn with No.2s, the khaki service dress by the majority of regts/corps) and beret badges.

Note: stay-brite badges are adonised aliminium not plastic

http://www.kellybadge.co.uk/Stock/capbadge_staybrite.htm

This site has examples of most capbadges past and present:
http://www.kellybadge.co.uk/Stock/capbadge.htm

[gaijinsamurai]

You are correct, sir! My bad! (they seem like plastic, though!)

[scuba]

Parachute Regiment NCOs wear the dark cap badge, whilst officers wear the shiny ones. Royal Marines, both NCO and officers wear the dark coloured cap badge, the difference being that the ones officers wear are actually two seperate pieces. The reigning monarch's crown and the globe with laurels.

[sexyhamburger]

Thanks guys, very cool stuff. Although I'm sure I've seen the "shiny" cap badge with NCO's from the Parachute Regiment as well. Didn't know about the Royal Marines' two part cap badge, thats pretty interesting. Are berets worn in the field often in the British army?

[scuba]

Thanks guys, very cool stuff. Although I'm sure I've seen the "shiny" cap badge with NCO's from the Parachute Regiment as well. Didn't know about the Royal Marines' two part cap badge, thats pretty interesting. Are berets worn in the field often in the British army?

The "shiny" cap badge worn by NCOs from the Parachute Regiment would be Warrant Officers.

[rgjbloke]

When I was in the mob in the seventies, we had anodised aluminium cap badges (silver coloured) which we wore on all forms of head dress. When we were on operations, which was mostly Northern Ireland in those days, we were given black painted badges, although the last tour I did there, we used our silver badges. Officers used the same badges except when they wore their no 1 head dress. Then they had a better quality badge, pewter or silver, which they wore then.

[Royal]

Parachute Regiment NCOs wear the dark cap badge, whilst officers wear the shiny ones. Royal Marines, both NCO and officers wear the dark coloured cap badge, the difference being that the ones officers wear are actually two seperate pieces. The reigning monarch's crown and the globe with laurels.

Bollocks.

I can't speak for Para Reg, but there are four types of beret badge issued in the Royal Marines. All ranks wear both polished and dulled types - depending on the situation. In combat gear (CS95) as working dress, or on Ops it's the dull type. On a parade or in Lovats it's the shiny type. On the officer's badge, the monarch's crown and Royal lion is seperate from the globe, laurel wreath and fouled anchor. Colonels and General officers have different, embriodered, beret badges.

The badge worn on the pith helmet is entirely different again.

[scuba]

Bollocks.

I can't speak for Para Reg, but there are four types of beret badge issued in the Royal Marines. All ranks wear both polished and dulled types - depending on the situation. In combat gear (CS95) as working dress, or on Ops it's the dull type. On a parade or in Lovats it's the shiny type. On the officer's badge, the monarch's crown and Royal lion is seperate from the globe, laurel wreath and fouled anchor. Colonels and General officers have different, embriodered, beret badges.

The badge worn on the pith helmet is entirely different again.

Sorry about the misinformation then, only ever worked with and been on exercise with the Royal Marines where everyone was wearing 95s. Totally forgot about the cloth cap badges that the Colonels and Generals wear. If I remember correctly, it is just what all the Colonels and Generals (staff officer?) wear in the British forces.

[AIRBORNEJOCK]

Parachute Regiment NCOs wear the dark cap badge, whilst officers wear the shiny ones. Royal Marines, both NCO and officers wear the dark coloured cap badge, the difference being that the ones officers wear are actually two seperate pieces. The reigning monarch's crown and the globe with laurels.

??????????
if this is the case ive not been issued one and ive been an nco for quite a bit.the reason for the black one self explanatory the reason for other cap badges being 'shiny' or not shiny is that you get issued a stay bright one but a lot of blokes have silver or gun metal ones.
nothing to do with rank just how much of a kit pest you are.

[Beer Monster]

My question is, do all regiments have multiple cap badges?

Some do some don't. Royal Scots for example use to have a cap badge (http://www.theroyalscots.co.uk/pages/4,Badges_and_Tartan.html.html)for jocks and another for Colour Sergeants and above. The officers cap badge was made of silver.

....... but thats all gone now :-(.

[Vince S]

Bollocks.

I can't speak for Para Reg, but there are four types of beret badge issued in the Royal Marines. All ranks wear both polished and dulled types - depending on the situation. In combat gear (CS95) as working dress, or on Ops it's the dull type. On a parade or in Lovats it's the shiny type. On the officer's badge, the monarch's crown and Royal lion is seperate from the globe, laurel wreath and fouled anchor. Colonels and General officers have different, embriodered, beret badges.

The badge worn on the pith helmet is entirely different again.

There is an Ex RM on another forum saying that he would use boot polish as an improvised way to "dye" his cap badge black. Any truth to this? Also why would he be doing that, because I assume boot polish can leave a mess on the beret?

[Royal]

There is an Ex RM on another forum saying that he would use boot polish as an improvised way to "dye" his cap badge black. Any truth to this? Also why would he be doing that, because I assume boot polish can leave a mess on the beret?

I joined in 1985 and we were issued beret badges that were already darkened like the one below:

http://cache.viewimages.com/xc/71514336.jpg?v=1&c=ViewImages&k=2&d=17A4AD9FDB9CF19390335F8FA9CA92A6A991FEA4F9B61841A96D640C844286CF

There was never any need to blacken them. If we go back to WWII there may well have been.

[AIRBORNEJOCK]

There is an Ex RM on another forum saying that he would use boot polish as an improvised way to "dye" his cap badge black. Any truth to this? Also why would he be doing that, because I assume boot polish can leave a mess on the beret?

that berets a load of ****e anyway a bit of boot polish might improve it......................................................waits for royal to ban him.....................

[digrar]

There is an Ex RM on another forum saying that he would use boot polish as an improvised way to "dye" his cap badge black. Any truth to this? Also why would he be doing that, because I assume boot polish can leave a mess on the beret?

Believe it or not but you can actually remove a badge from a beret...

[BOOTNECK_RM]

that berets a load of ****e anyway a bit of boot polish might improve it......................................................waits for royal to ban him.....................

better than that large target marker you head cases wear. Oh I forgot, theres lots of stuff in the field coloured maroon. Good cam and con...

[Vince S]

Believe it or not but you can actually remove a badge from a beret...

You also have to put it back on obviously...

[martinexsquaddie]

royal don't you mean 1885:)?