Robin Lumsden Posted October 11, 2014 Share Posted October 11, 2014 Can anyone tell me if this arm badge is from WW1 or WW2 ?? The hand-embroidered construction looks WW1 to me. Thanks in advance !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoss Posted October 11, 2014 Share Posted October 11, 2014 (edited) Hi Robin I can't tell you if its original or not, W2 the gun lays at a different angle than this example the only W1 badges I had were in brass. Eric Edited October 11, 2014 by Hoss Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin Lumsden Posted October 11, 2014 Author Share Posted October 11, 2014 (edited) Thanks, Eric. I just picked it up for £36. Quite pleased at that. Looks like an old one (1917-ish ???) to me. Edited October 11, 2014 by Robin Lumsden Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin Lumsden Posted October 11, 2014 Author Share Posted October 11, 2014 Reverse 'mesh' construction looks a bit like this old Imperial German TK .......................... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mervyn Mitton Posted October 12, 2014 Share Posted October 12, 2014 Hi - Robin. I agree with you both that it has the look of the early ones. Why did I just know that a skull was in it somewhere......... Mervyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin Lumsden Posted October 12, 2014 Author Share Posted October 12, 2014 Mervyn. These old British tanks and skulls go together like ham and eggs !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin Lumsden Posted October 12, 2014 Author Share Posted October 12, 2014 Here's the original (undated, but probably 1915-16) design drawing for this badge, courtesy of The Imperial War Museum. The badge I have has the gun in white, rather than the standard regulation black .................... I haven't seen another one like it. Any ideas? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin Lumsden Posted October 12, 2014 Author Share Posted October 12, 2014 See what I mean ...................... ?? Not a white gun barrel in sight. All black. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mervyn Mitton Posted October 13, 2014 Share Posted October 13, 2014 That's an interesting point - I wonder if it was an early experimental one ? Have you actually spoken to anyone at the Imp. War Museum? Mervyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin Lumsden Posted October 13, 2014 Author Share Posted October 13, 2014 Hello Mervyn. No ................ last time I was at the IWM was donkey's years ago. The badge is probably just one of those unexplained original 'variations'. A bit like the now famous 'black skull'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin Lumsden Posted October 13, 2014 Author Share Posted October 13, 2014 Another confirmed WW1 grouping .................... with a black gun. I've been in the 'net for an hour and can't find another tank sleeve badge with a white gun !!! Even the US AEF tankers (Patton included) in 1918 appear to have worn British-type badges with black guns. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin Lumsden Posted November 16, 2014 Author Share Posted November 16, 2014 (edited) Just found out ..................... My odd badge with white gun could be one for tankers of the Heavy Branch of the Machine Gun Corps, 1916. Before they became the Tank Corps in 1917. Later, the Royal Tank Regiment. Edited November 16, 2014 by Robin Lumsden Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted November 17, 2014 Share Posted November 17, 2014 According to Tanks Again the hollow gun was in use with the Tank Corps 1917/18. I'll have it if you don't want it Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin Lumsden Posted November 17, 2014 Author Share Posted November 17, 2014 Tanks, Tony ! (Sorry ..................... that should be thanks, Tony !) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry B Posted November 18, 2014 Share Posted November 18, 2014 An interesting variation. The only one I have is the standard version with the black gun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin Lumsden Posted November 20, 2014 Author Share Posted November 20, 2014 Although not too clear in this scan, an A. E. Haswell-Miller postcard from 1920, in the Imperial War Museum Collection, shows the 'hollow' gun in wear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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