Little Cardboard Recruiting Sergeants

[leigh kitchen]

The British public house & alcohol in general has long had associaton with recruiting to the British army & Royal Navy.

In days gone by the ale house was a favourite hunting ground for recruiters & it's still possible to buy pewter pots with glass bottoms so that the King's shillng dropped in by a crafty recruiting sergeant can be spotted before the drink was consumed & the shilling & service in the army or navy thereby accepted.

Although the recruiting sergeant with his "favours" & his shillings no longer haunts the pub for such a purpose, his spirit lives on in little discs of cardboard - the beermat.

[leigh kitchen]

The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, eye catching with it's red feathers to the hackle, a beermat dating from the 1970's:

[leigh kitchen]

Now you're a likely looking lad, the RHQ of the Fusiliers is still The Tower of London, so you can print this out & post it off, it'll no doubt get there despte the lack of modern postcode..............you don't get a shilling, but you pay a couple for the postage.

[leigh kitchen]

The Intelligence Corps, naturally a circle or square's too simple for them, got to have something a little more complicated so this beermat, also from the 1970's is octagonal - but t's the same both sides, can't post this one off - part of the intelligence test is finding them......

[leigh kitchen]

1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards wasformed on 1/1/1959, wth the amalgamation of The 1st King’s Dragoon Guards & The 2nd Dragoon Guards - "The Bays".

Edited March 20, 2010 by leigh kitchen

[leigh kitchen]

The Queen's Own Hussars was formed on 3/11/1958, with the amalgamation of The 3rd The King's Own Hussars & The 7th Queen's Own Hussars.

The senior Light Cavalry Regiment in the army until 1993, it amalgamated with The Queen's Royal Irish Hussars to form The Queen's Royal Hussars (The Queen's Own & Royal Irish).

[leigh kitchen]

45 Field Regiment was a short lived regment of The Royal Artillery, & relatively new. In 1947 it was renamed as 45 from 32 Field Regiment RA, which had been formed in 1924, although various of its batteries were far older.

At the end of 1950, the regiment was part of 29 Bde in Korea, it fought at the Battle of the Imjin in 1951.

Moving to Hong Kong for internal security duties, it went to Kirkee Barracks, Colchester at the beginning of 1954. Later in the year, it went to Dortmund, West Germany, & in 1963 to Malacca in Malaya, also serving in Borneo.

At the beginning of 1966, the regiment went back to the UK, but a year later was back in Dortmund, at Ubique Barracks, in 1972 it moved to Barker Barracks, Paderborn. Having completed four emergency tours in Northern Ireland, the regiment moved to Hohne in 1978 & to Kirkee Barracks, Colchester again in 1985.

In 1988 the Regiment carried out another emergency tour in Northern Ireland before moving back to Barker Barracks, Paderborn.

Over half of the regiment deployed to The Frst Gulf War, a battery (52 Niagara)serving another tour in Northern Ireland.

In 1990, the regiment moved back to Barker Barracks in Paderborn, & in 1992 completed its sixth & last tour of Northern Ireland.

On 7/4/1993, whilst still at Barker Barracks, the regiment was placed in suspended animation.

This beermat bears the current St Edward's Crown version of The Royal Artillery cap badge & is printed in the red & blue (albeit a lighter than correct blue) colours of the regiment.

It would have been distributed to pubs in the West Yorkshire area.

[Mervyn Mitton]

Leigh - what an unusual subject. Something we just take for granted. When do you think they first started with the advertising ?

[Hugh]

45 Field Regiment was a short lived regment of The Royal Artillery, & relatively new. In 1947 it was renamed as 45 from 32 Field Regiment RA, which had been formed in 1924, although various of its batteries were far older.

At the end of 1950, the regiment was part of 29 Bde in Korea, it fought at the Battle of the Imjin in 1951.

Moving to Hong Kong for internal security duties, it went to Kirkee Barracks, Colchester at the beginning of 1954. Later in the year, it went to Dortmund, West Germany, & in 1963 to Malacca in Malaya, also serving in Borneo.

At the beginning of 1966, the regiment went back to the UK, but a year later was back in Dortmund, at Ubique Barracks, in 1972 it moved to Barker Barracks, Paderborn. Having completed four emergency tours in Northern Ireland, the regiment moved to Hohne in 1978 & to Kirkee Barracks, Colchester again in 1985.

In 1988 the Regiment carried out another emergency tour in Northern Ireland before moving back to Barker Barracks, Paderborn.

Over half of the regiment deployed to The Frst Gulf War, a battery (52 Niagara)serving another tour in Northern Ireland.

In 1990, the regiment moved back to Barker Barracks in Paderborn, & in 1992 completed its sixth & last tour of Northern Ireland.

On 7/4/1993, whilst still at Barker Barracks, the regiment was placed in suspended animation.

This beermat bears the current St Edward's Crown version of The Royal Artillery cap badge & is printed in the red & blue (albeit a lighter than correct blue) colours of the regiment.

It would have been distributed to pubs in the West Yorkshire area.

A nice rundown. Can you tell us a bit about the guns with which they were equipped at various times?

Thanks,

Hugh

[leigh kitchen]

I'm stronger on beermats than artillery pieces, but between 1947 & its disbandment in 1993, the regiment used 25 pounders in Korea, Malaya & Borneo, 5.5" and 4.2" howitzers, M110, M109 & M109A2 self-propelled guns, Blowpipe anti-aircraft missiles, FH70 (towed), light guns, & the FV433 Abbot.

I don't know when the army started using beermats as recruiting aids Merv, but a few that I've got can be dated to the late 1950's - late 1960's by the regimental title or insignia,

[leigh kitchen]

Not a British army "recruiting" beermat, but there's a tenuous link in that it portrays a Brtish Redcoat - a beermat from the now sadly defunct Rorkes Drift Bar/Cafe, 46, Mitchell Street, Darwin, Australia - apparently it closed in 2006 & the building was refurbished & reopened as "Monsoons" Bar/Cafe.

As the menu said:

"The best of British hospitality in the heart of Mitchell Street."

"This is the Story of Rorke's Drift: In 1879, on January 22-23, the most extraordinary and dramatic events took place at Rorke's Drift, Natal, South Africa. On being alerted of the most disastrous of defeats at nearby Isandlwana, British troops numbering less than 150 prepared to defend the mission station at Rorke's Drift against 4000 Zulus. This was a brutal, unrelenting assault, continuing on its ferocity for twelve hours.

Sheer courage, bravery, tactic and determination brought the battle to an end, the remaining Zulus retreating from the station and (their) humble kingdom saluting the bravery of the victorious British soldiers left standing. Eleven Victoria Crosses were awarded for their bravery and to date this is the most that has ever been won in one battle.

Edited March 21, 2010 by leigh kitchen

[leigh kitchen]

Reverse:

Used to have some lovely Redback wheat beer there.....

Edited March 21, 2010 by leigh kitchen

[Graham Stewart]

Leigh - just a quick question referring to the illustrations. Is the coloured illustration not a "Barrack Warden" as opposed to a recruiter, as he's wearing a Royal cypher capbadge? The recruiter photo's I've seen, always seem to portay regimental capbadges rather than the Royal cypher.

[leigh kitchen]

I think he's a Pensioner Recruiting Sergeant Graham, Barrack Wardens (again I think) wore just a crown as a cap badge with a brass "BW" shoulder title?

"British Army Proficiency Badges" has a photo of an "army recruiter c1935" wearing the cypher cap badge with King's Crown collar badges, cloth shoulder titles, crossed flags & chevrons on the upper right arm.

[Mervyn Mitton]

How dare they have a 'Rorke's Drift' in Darwin. I suppose he was a Sth.Af. who got drunk and was left behind....

[leigh kitchen]

The Green Howards were a Yorkshire Regiment, the design of badge shown on this beermat was the same design as a cap badge introduced in 1970 for officers & in 1971 for Other Ranks. Prior to that The Yorkshire Brigade badge was worn from 1958, & prior to that a version of The Green Howards badge without the "XIX", from 1951.

[leigh kitchen]

The Green Howards traditionally recruited from North Yorkshire & Teeside, their Regimental HQ being in Richmond.

They were one of the few line infantry regiments to survive unamalgamated into this century, but now form 2nd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment, that regiment being formed on 6 June 2006 from the amalgamation of The Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire (14th/15th Foot), The Green Howards (Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment) (19th Foot) & The Duke of Wellington's Regiment (33rd/76th Foot).

Despite the badge on the beermat being the same as the cap badge introduced about 1970-71, the costume of the civilian before he transmogrifies into the soldier & the uniform of the latter appear to be earlier. The civilian is wearing clothing more appropriate to the 1950's or 60's, possibly Teddy-boy "drapes" & "drain-pipes" of the 50's?

The soldier appears to be wearing Battledress which was replaced by olive green Combat Dress in the 1960's & is armed with with a Self Loading Rifle introduced into the British army in 1957, although on trial before that.

I'm guessing 1950's - 60's for this one.

[leigh kitchen]

In 1782 the Regiment's title was changed to 33rd (or 1st Yorkshire West Riding) Regiment, thus formalising an association with the West Riding of Yorkshire which, even then, had been long established

In 1793 Arthur Wellesley, (later the 1st Duke of Wellington) joined the 33rd Foot, commanding it until 1803.

From 1806 until 1813 he was Colonel.

The 33rd Foot fought under his command at Waterloo in 1815

The Duke died in 1852 & in 1853 the 33rd were granted the title of "The Duke of Wellingtons Regiment".

In 1782 the 33rd had been formally linked with the West Riding of Yorkshire, recognising its long established practise of recruiting men from that area.

In 1787 The 76th Foot had been raised & in 1881 the 33rd & the 76th were amalgamated to form the 1st & 2nd Battalions of The Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment). The title was later changed to The Duke of Wellington's Regiment (West Riding).

In 1873 the two regiments had been "brigaded" together under a system which paired regiments with a sheared depot, in the case of The 33rd & The 76th this was at Halifax.

There was great local opposition to the depot being established at Highroad Well, but the depot was established there & remained until 1959.

In 1948 the 1st and 2nd Battalions of "The Dukes" were amalgamated & reduced to The 1st Bn, & on 6/6/2006 the regiment was amalgamated with The Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire (14th/15th Foot) & The Green Howards (Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment) (19th Foot), to form The Yorkshire Regiment, The Dukes forming the 3rd Bn. of the new regiment.I'm guessing about 1960's for this beermat?

[leigh kitchen]

"Old Nosey", The Duke of Wellington, on the front of the beermat, the regimental cap badge, based on his crest, on the back.

[leigh kitchen]

An interesting beermat, The West Yorkshire Regiment (The Prince of Wales's Own) & The East Yorkshire Regiment (The Duke of York's Own) were amalgamated on 25/4/1958 to form The Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire.

The West Yorks had been the old 14th Foot & The East Yorks had been The 15th Foot.

The cap badge of the Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire was based on that of The West Yorks, The white horse of Hanover, just removing the regiment's name scroll from the badge & adding the word "YORKSHIRE" to the ground beneath the horse's hooves.

The regiment upon amalgamation however was required to wear the crowned rose over "Yorkshire" scroll badge of The Yorkshire Brigade, & was'nt able to wear it's own regimental cap badge until the Brigade was disbanded about 1968.

The badge of The East Yorks had been a star containing a rose within a laurel wreath & with a name scroll beneath.

The cap badge shown on this beermat shows the design of The East Yorks cap badge but with the new regimental title on the scroll below.

I'm having a senior moment & can't remember whether this portrayal of the badge based on that of The East Yorks has any basis in fact - if it was worn as a collar badge during the days of the Brigade system, or as a TA insignia, or if it's just wishful thinking by The East Yorks that their star, rose & wreath would form the basis of the new regiment's badge & not the West York's white horse.

The Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire amalgamated on 6/6/2006 with the two regiments above, The Green Howards & The Dukes, & formed the 1st Bn. of the new Yorkshire Regiment.

[leigh kitchen]

Promoting the product rather than the regiment, but "Red Hackle" Scotch Whiskey taps into patriotism & pride in a famous regiment - The Black Watch.

A beermat from the 1970's.

[leigh kitchen]

The reverse:

[pjac]

These are great! I had no idea such things ever existed, and I've been in quite a few pubs since 1967.

Patrick