Collecting Metal Shoulder Titles

Ray Westlake

• Publisher: Leo Cooper
• Year: 2020
• Print ISBN: 9781526781888
• eBook ISBN: 9781473813274
• Subtopic: British History

A revised and updated collector's reference guide to British Army metal shoulder titles from all the various units.
Newly revised and updated, Collecting Metal Shoulder Titles records the titles worn throughout the British Army by units of the Regular, Militia, Yeomanry, Volunteer, Territorial and Cadet forces.
Details of some two thousand patterns are set out in the text and illustrated by photographs from the author's unique collection.
Ray Westlake is a recognised authority on British Army lineage and gives dates of formation, amalgamation, disbandment and changes in designation for all regiments.
Collecting Metal Shoulder Titles is recognised by collectors and military historians alike as the definitive reference work.
Today, some sixteen years after it first appeared, the book remains the only reliable guide to an increasingly popular form of collecting.
This edition, with two supplements, brings it abreast of the last round of mergers and amalgamations.

Contents

Acknowledgements

Abbreviations

Introduction

CHAPTER

1 Cavalry

2 Yeomanry

3 Arms and Services

4 Foot Guards

5 Infantry Regiments

6 Infantry Regiments formed since 1958

7 Territorial Regiments

8 Cyclists

9 Reserve Regiments 1900

10 Royal Marines

11 Royal Naval Division

12 Schools and Training Establishments

13 Women’s Units

14 Miscellaneous Units

15 Supplement 1

16 Supplement 2

Bibliography

THE PLATES

Index

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank all those friends and fellow collectors without whose help this book would not have been possible. Thanks must also go to the curators of the many Regimental Museums who have provided information and the opportunity to inspect unit scrap books and photograph albums.

ABBREVIATIONS

Admin. Bn. Administrative Battalion

Bn. Battalion

C.B. Cadet Battalion

C.C.N. Catalogue of Clothing and Necessaries

Coy Company

H.A.C. Honourable Artillery Company

HQ Headquarters

K.D. Khaki Drill

L.I. Light Infantry

O.T.C. Officer Training Corps

R.A. Royal Artillery

R.F.A. Royal Field Artillery

R.G.A. Royal Garrison Artillery

R.H.A. Royal Horse Artillery

R.S.M. Regimental Sergeant Major

R.V.C. Rifle Volunteer Corps

R.Vs. Rifle Volunteers

S.D. Service Dress

Sqn Squadron

T. Territorial

T.A.V.R. Territorial Army and Volunteer Reserve

T.F. Territorial Force

V. Volunteer

V.B. Volunteer Battalion

w.m. white metal

Yeom Yeomanry

Introduction

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Metal shoulder titles were introduced shortly after 1881 and were at first only worn on officers’ tropical uniforms. Khaki drill uniforms were issued in India in 1885 and it was on this dress that titles were first used by all ranks. Home service and other forms of dress at first had the title of the regiment stitched into the shoulder straps, metal titles being issued by 1907. Embroidered titles were used on the service dress that was introduced in 1902; these were retained until 1907 when the Priced Vocabulary of Clothing and Necessaries for that year stated that embroidered titles would be replaced by metal. By 1908 metal titles were being worn throughout the British Army and the following quotation from Clothing Regulations indicates how and on what forms of dress they were worn: ‘Metal shoulder titles will be worn on both shoulder straps of garments for which they are authorized. The lower edge of the title (or shoulder badge if authorized in lieu) will be ½ inch above the seam joining the shoulder strap to the sleeve. In cases where a badge (i.e. bugle, grenade, etc) is authorized in addition to the title, the lower edge of the title will be worn ¼ inch above the seam.’ The Regulations go on to say that: ‘Titles, etc, will be worn on the shoulder straps of tunics, S.D., and K.D. jackets, and greatcoats.’ Embroidered titles, similar to those worn on service dress between 1902 and 1907, were taken into use by the Brigade of Guards in 1914 and were worn on service dress throughout the Great War.

Battle dress was introduced in March, 1938, and by 1943 coloured, embroidered shoulder titles were being worn by practically every regiment and corps on the blouse. Cavalry regiments, however, were later to change to metal. Battle dress was to last, in one form o...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents