British Tank Crew Badge ............. WW1 or WW2 ?

[Robin Lumsden]

Can anyone tell me if this arm badge is from WW1 or WW2 ??

The hand-embroidered construction looks WW1 to me.

Thanks in advance !!

[Hoss]

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

[Robin Lumsden]

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

[Robin Lumsden]

Reverse 'mesh' construction looks a bit like this old Imperial German TK ..........................

[Mervyn Mitton]

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

[Robin Lumsden]

Mervyn.

These old British tanks and skulls go together like ham and eggs !!

[Robin Lumsden]

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?

[Robin Lumsden]

See what I mean ...................... ??

Not a white gun barrel in sight.

All black.

[Mervyn Mitton]

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

[Robin Lumsden]

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'.

[Robin Lumsden]

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.

[Robin Lumsden]

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

[Tony]

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

[Robin Lumsden]

Tanks, Tony !

(Sorry ..................... that should be thanks, Tony !)

[Jerry B]

An interesting variation. The only one I have is the standard version with the black gun.

[Robin Lumsden]

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.