Tank Corps Cap Badge with Colours of Corps

WW1 Tank Corps Cap Badge

 This is a nice First World war officers bronze Tank Corps cap badge. The officer who had this badge drilled two holes in it and on the reverse stitched cloth with the Tank Corps colours.

The colours typified the struggle of the Corps - 'From mud, through blood to the green fields beyond'. This most apt interpretation of the colours was suggested by Colonel Fuller. The flag is flown with the green uppermost The story goes that just before the battle of Cumbrai in 1917, General Elles wanting a distinguishing mark for his tank, went into a shop to buy material for a flag. Supplies were short but he came out with a length of green, red and brown silk. He stitched this together and flew it from his tank "Hilda" which he led the corps into battle.



Reverse with Tank Corps Colours

The South Staffordshire Plastic Economy Cap Badge

The South Staffordshire Plastic Economy Cap Badge

 Above is The South Staffordshire Regiment War Time plastic Cap Badge. These badges were introduced during the Second World War when metals became more strategic materials. You can see from the picture below that there should be two blades, one of which has broken off. The South Staffordshire Regiment were involved in glider operations during D-Day. Also operated as part of operation Market Garden in Arhnem.

Reverse, one of the blades is missing

WW1 Silver War Badge

WW1 Silver War Badge

 The above is the WW1 sliver war badge. This badge was issued to UK service personnel who had been honorably discharged due to wounds or sickness. The badge was worn on the right breast whilst wearing civilian clothing. It became common practice for women to hand out a white feather to men not wearing a uniform  So this badge was introduced to prevent this from happening. Each badge is numbered on the reverese as can be seen on the picture below.

Reverse

After a small bit of research online. I used ancestry.co.uk, I came up with his silver war badge record shown below and from that found out his name and number and used that to find his Medal index card. Also shown below.

Recipient of above silver war badge

 He's name was Spr James Childs and was in the Royal Engineers. He was wounded 26 June 1918 he was entitled to the Victory medal and British war medal. His medal index card shows his entitlement to the Silver War Badge.

James Childs Medal index card