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Royal Canadian Artillery Cap Badges

Article about: The cap badge of the Royal Canadian Artillery was based on that of the British Royal Artillery, but was of distinctive Canadian design. Unlike the RA, very few RCA units adopted the collar b

  1. #1

    Default Royal Canadian Artillery Cap Badges

    The cap badge of the Royal Canadian Artillery was based on that of the British Royal Artillery, but was of distinctive Canadian design. Unlike the RA, very few RCA units adopted the collar badge as a cap badge for the Field Service Cap and Beret, and the full gun badge was worn on all headdress.
    There were two basic patterns of RCA badge issued to other Ranks as shown below:

    Royal Canadian Artillery Cap Badges

    These two patterns were subject to many variations between manufacturers, including such features as convex wheels, varying scroll lettering and variations in materials and finish, but all badges were made with fixing lugs (not sliders). After issue, many Canadian gunners seem to have made personal modifications and alterations to their badges, both for decorative and practical purposes. Although other Canadian regiments and corps certainly made similar modifications, the Royal Canadian Artillery seem to have had a penchant for this. Here are a few examples from my collection.

    Slider Modification

    Royal Canadian Artillery Cap BadgesRoyal Canadian Artillery Cap Badges

    When I bought the first of these two badges I assumed this was a personal modification, but since then I have found another, bearing a number from the same unit. In both cases, the lugs on the back have been removed and replaced with a soldered-on slider, stamped with the owner’s army number (F16199 and F16374). Both these numbers are from the 1st (Halifax) Coast Regiment, part of Atlantic Command’s defences at Halifax, Nova Scotia. This was, of course, an extremely important port, being the origin of many of the Atlantic convoys. There is no doubt, examining the stampings, that both were done with the same stamp set, and I suspect this alteration was done on a unit level.

    Ground Detail

    The most common alteration done to RCA cap badges was the removal of fine detail. The point of this was certainly an 'old soldier’s' trick to make polishing easier, and to achieve a more mirror-like finish. In all of these examples, the flat surfaces are definitely due to being deliberately ground, not just polished. I have three of these:

    Royal Canadian Artillery Cap Badges

    The first is ground flat on all raised detail; crown, top scroll, wheel and lower scroll.

    Royal Canadian Artillery Cap Badges

    The second has just the top and lower scrolls ground.

    Royal Canadian Artillery Cap Badges

    The third has just the lower scroll ground flat.

    Gunner Macleod

    Royal Canadian Artillery Cap Badges

    This next example belonged to C14356 Gunner Harvey MacLeod (pictured), who was originally with 2nd Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, but who seems to have later transferred to a First Canadian Army artillery unit.

    Royal Canadian Artillery Cap Badges

    It has a red backing cut from a 1st Canadian Division patch, and a celluloid former to make the beret sit nicely behind it.

    Royal Canadian Artillery Cap BadgesRoyal Canadian Artillery Cap Badges

    The technique used to flatten down this badge was even more extreme. It appears the badge has been placed face down and hammered flat, then the face polished. The end result is that the badge is pretty much a sheet brass shape. It would, however, polish up to a mirror shine in about 30 seconds flat, and I am sure that was the intention.

    Gunner Collins

    Royal Canadian Artillery Cap Badges

    This one is certainly a personal statement, if not a work of art. Fairly obviously, it belonged to B58490 Gunner M W Collins. In addition to the badge detailing being ground flat, and brought to a perfectly smooth finish, he has also engraved his army number on the UBIQUE scroll, and replaced QUO FAS ET GLORIA DUCUNT with his name and rank. His number, B58490 is actually a Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps number, but transfers of ordnance men to the RCA wasn’t that uncommon.

    Penny Wheel

    Royal Canadian Artillery Cap Badges

    In this example, the wheel of the cannon has been replaced with a Canadian 1 Cent coin (a penny). It’s hard to see as it’s so polished, but its a 1941 penny. I have seen several examples of RCA badges with mounted pennies, but I don’t know if it had any meaning or was just a ‘thing to do‘, or whether the date of the penny was important.
    This badge belonged to a man named T H Johnston. Unfortunately, I don’t have any more info on him, although I do have two other possessions of his:

    Royal Canadian Artillery Cap Badges

    an ID bracelet and a cigarette case (French-made I think), presumably designed to be kept in the ’breast’ pocket?

    Dutch Coin

    Royal Canadian Artillery Cap Badges

    This is a similar modification to the ‘Penny Wheel’, but in this case the coin is Dutch, and displays the image of Queen Wilhelmina. I previously posted this on another forum, and a member there had a period photo of an RCA man wearing what appears to be the same badge modification:

    Royal Canadian Artillery Cap Badges

    The Canadian Army were instrumental in liberating the Netherlands, and to this day both countries commemorate this fact. I suspect the addition of a Dutch coin was done in the same spirit.

    Rob

  2. #2

    Default Re: Royal Canadian Artillery Cap Badges

    Hi Rob, excelent collection of RCA cap badges. The polished and coin mounted examples are very interesting. I have seen some Aussie rising sun badges that have been ground.
    Regards,

    Jerry

    Whatever its just an opinion.

  3. #3

    Default Re: Royal Canadian Artillery Cap Badges

    Superb thread.

    Cheers, Ade.
    Had good advice? Saved money? Why not become a Gold Club Member, just hit the green "Join WRF Club" tab at the top of the page and help support the forum!

  4. #4

    Default Re: Royal Canadian Artillery Cap Badges

    Thanks Ade and Jerry.

    I like this kind of thing because it shows the individual, human side of warfare and soldiering, which is easy to overlook in collecting.

    Quote by Bond View Post
    The polished and coin mounted examples are very interesting.
    From the number of coin badges I have seen, and of course the picture of the Dutch Coin Badge, it seems these things were actually worn. The one thing I haven't been able to find out yet is the thinking behind these things, and whether they were to make a statement, or just an expression of creativity

    Rob

  5. #5

    Default

    Hi guys,

    Great article!

    I have a question. How can you see the difference between a Brittisch badge and a Canadian one?

    For example, is this one Brittisch or Canadian?

    Royal Canadian Artillery Cap Badges
    Royal Canadian Artillery Cap Badges

    Regards,

    Jac

  6. #6

    Default

    yours is Canadian, you can tell how the ground meets the underside of the trail and the hanging chains, British examples are very different, as shown below
    Click to enlarge the picture Click to enlarge the picture Royal Canadian Artillery Cap Badges   Royal Canadian Artillery Cap Badges  

    Regards,

    Jerry

    Whatever its just an opinion.

  7. #7

    Default

    Hi Jerry,

    Thanks! Very helpfull indeed!

    Last question. Are these Canadian badges always from no later then 1945? Or are they also produced after 45? If so, can one tell the difference between a ww2 made example and later examples?

    Regards,
    Jac

  8. #8

    Default

    I am not a specialist on canadian badges, I assume this pattern was used up til 1953, impossible to date them without known history of any badge
    Regards,

    Jerry

    Whatever its just an opinion.

  9. #9
    ?

    Default

    Quote by Jerry B View Post
    yours is Canadian, you can tell how the ground meets the underside of the trail and the hanging chains, British examples are very different, as shown below
    Thanks Jerry ,
    I never knew that about Canadian Artillery Badges .
    You learn something everyday.
    I collect Australian ones and the pattern is obviously much the same as the British type.
    Cheers Rick

    Attachment 1412912

    Attachment 1412913

    Attachment 1412914

  10. #10

    Default

    NIce badges rick. at least the aussies make it easy to id their version, the south africans do the same by naming it.

    Here is my RA badge collection, including one from SA and one early pre 1908 british example, some post war beret badge examples as well as a theater made FOO/Commanders vehicle pennant and some caps.
    Click to enlarge the picture Click to enlarge the picture Royal Canadian Artillery Cap Badges   Royal Canadian Artillery Cap Badges  

    Royal Canadian Artillery Cap Badges   Royal Canadian Artillery Cap Badges  

    Royal Canadian Artillery Cap Badges   Royal Canadian Artillery Cap Badges  

    Royal Canadian Artillery Cap Badges   Royal Canadian Artillery Cap Badges  

    Regards,

    Jerry

    Whatever its just an opinion.

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