REME badge

Can anyone tell me if the REME badge was a different design before the current one?

I am asking because I have been photographing war graves again today and found a REME grave with a strange (for me) badge on it.

I also found another grave with Royal Arm Service Corps on it. Can't believe CWGC made such an error and no one has seen and reported it. The Y definitely was never there as the stone is smooth.

I don't know about the REME badge, but that gravestone is shocking Teabag.

The REME badge was a different design when REME was formed in WW11 an oval shape not unlike the RAOC shape

Do you mean this version Jim ... I think it was 1947/8 when it was changes to the new style with a Kings Crown, then to a Queens Crown in 1952 .. Got to be some old timer REME guys on the list to put me right.

Len (Ciphers)

Badge 1 is the All Brass WWII 1942 -1947 Cap Badge
Badge 2 Is the Bi-Metal 1947 -1952 KC Badge
Badge 3 Is the Bi-Metal 1952 QC Version
Badge 4 Is the Queens Crown Staybrite Badge

Blimey, Two posts while I was replying! all good info however.

Mike_2817 wrote:

Badge 1 is the All Brass WWII 1942 -1947 Cap Badge
Badge 2 Is the Bi-Metal 1947 -1952 KC Badge
Badge 3 Is the Bi-Metal 1952 QC Version
Badge 4 Is the Queens Crown Staybrite Badge

The first one is the one on the grave. Never seen that before. Thanks.

Teabag wrote:

Can anyone tell me if the REME badge was a different design before the current one?

I am asking because I have been photographing war graves again today and found a REME grave with a strange (for me) badge on it.

I also found another grave with Royal Arm Service Corps on it. Can't believe CWGC made such an error and no one has seen and reported it. The Y definitely was never there as the stone is smooth.

Like you, the first time I came across the old REME badge was while visiting the British Military Cemetery, Hanover in the late 60's

Mike_2817 wrote:

Badge 1 is the All Brass WWII 1942 -1947 Cap Badge
Badge 2 Is the Bi-Metal 1947 -1952 KC Badge
Badge 3 Is the Bi-Metal 1952 QC Version
Badge 4 Is the Queens Crown Staybrite Badge

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Electrical_and_Mechanical_Engineers

There was a discussion on another forum about this.If I remember right the Kings Crown is infact the Tudor Crown ( which doesn't exist) and the Queens Crown is the St Edwards Crown ( the actual crown of England).
If you read the link below there are still discussions going on about the reasons for the change.......

http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/gb-crown.html#change

That's interesting Bob, so the Last King wore the same crown as our current Queen? It doesn't look the same on his Coronation pics.

jim wrote:

That's interesting Bob, so the Last King wore the same crown as our current Queen? It doesn't look the same on his Coronation pics.

I too thought George VI used the Tudor (KC) going by photos and footage of his coronation. The way it was told to me was that Elizabeth's Coronation used the St Edwards Crown because it is not as heavy as the Tudor Crown.

In the REME badge photo the King's Crown ones come specifically from the reign of George VI. I've noticed, when looking at old cap badges, that ones made during the reign of Edward VII and/or George V also have the King's Crown but it does look slightly different.

Teabag wrote:

Mike_2817 wrote:

Badge 1 is the All Brass WWII 1942 -1947 Cap Badge
Badge 2 Is the Bi-Metal 1947 -1952 KC Badge
Badge 3 Is the Bi-Metal 1952 QC Version
Badge 4 Is the Queens Crown Staybrite Badge

The first one is the one on the grave. Never seen that before. Thanks.

I often see a bloke wearing the badge on Remembrance Sunday.

jim wrote:

That's interesting Bob, so the Last King wore the same crown as our current Queen? It doesn't look the same on his Coronation pics.

After having a trawl through the internet I'm even more confused than ever. Some places say the crowns were changed others say that the Imperial State Crown was only altered for HMQ.( the height was reduced to make it look more feminine & I suppose lighter).....................

confused .............I sure am

I've been looking as well, I can't throw any further light on it either yet Bob.

Oh well, look what I have just found on the home page of a certain Mike_2187

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/mike.comerford/ORDNANCE/28.htm

Hmmm, I've just noticed another thing,

how come in all the medals at the bottom, QV and the Kings are facing left, yet QE is facing right?

jim wrote:

Hmmm, I've just noticed another thing,

how come in all the medals at the bottom, QV and the Kings are facing left, yet QE is facing right?

Good question. It certainly does look like George VI and Elizabeth II are not speaking.

Not sure why but the same thing seems to apply to postage stamps as well.

Really, I'm off to google that.

Hmm, a wiki article seems to claim that Edward thought his left profile was his best? seems a week premise to me

and this?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/notesandqueries/query/0,,-185427,00.html

and

http://www.guardian.co.uk/notesandqueries/query/0,5753,-1499,00.html

I suspect medals followed the coinage of the realm.
I just checked.
Victoria looks L, Eddie 7 -R, George 5- L, Eddie 8- R, George 6-L,
and Liz- R.
There are not many of Edward vii's coins around so he tends to get missed. (Useless little git).

brum

mjm34 wrote:

jim wrote:

Hmmm, I've just noticed another thing,

how come in all the medals at the bottom, QV and the Kings are facing left, yet QE is facing right?

Good question. It certainly does look like George VI and Elizabeth II are not speaking.

Not sure why but the same thing seems to apply to postage stamps as well.

Forgot to mention, All postage stamps, whichever monarch, face left.

brum

brum wrote:

mjm34 wrote:

jim wrote:

Hmmm, I've just noticed another thing,

how come in all the medals at the bottom, QV and the Kings are facing left, yet QE is facing right?

Good question. It certainly does look like George VI and Elizabeth II are not speaking.

Not sure why but the same thing seems to apply to postage stamps as well.

Forgot to mention, All postage stamps, whichever monarch, face left.

brum

Doh! As an ex-philatelist I should have known that. I must have been getting mixed up with coins.

LOL it's an age thing mate.

Yes, there are are only Two British Royal Crowns depicted on Cap Badges, Medals, Coins & Stamps, but just to confuse matters, they are not always depicted in the same way!

The St. Edwards Crown (aka Queen Victoria's Crown) which is worn only once at the coronation of all Monarchs, and the Imperial State Crown (aka Tudor Crown) worn at the State Opening of Parliament, again by all Monarchs [which has been modified on several occasions] plus a much smaller Victoria's Personal lightweight Crown which is still in the Tower but with no Jewels as they were used in the re-vamp of the Royal Jewels over the years.