Unusual insignia of British HSDR

**Greg Pickersgill** · 03-31-2019, 12:44 PM

I was sent this by a correspondent in Belgium. He says -

"it's a 1953 issue one, by BMB...and i really can't make out what the insignia stands for, is it RAC, RAR...I have no actual clue. It can't be newly applied, since the more "green" paint was apparently over it (still marks covering small parts) and the original khaki is widely present on the shell."

Enquiries elsewhere have brought no definate information, other than the discovery that another collector in Germany has a similar HSDR with the same insignia.

It's obviously ceremonial/special purpose, and has to date from post-1952 as the form of the crown is for a Queen. So, what is it for, and what is the letterering? (I know what I believe I see, but I'm not going to post a leading question.).

**Narcis** · 03-31-2019, 01:11 PM

Looks like the royal monogram of Queen Anne of Great Britain (Anna Regina).

**Greg Pickersgill** · 03-31-2019, 03:17 PM

by Narcis

Looks like the royal monogram of Queen Anne of Great Britain (Anna Regina).

Some resemblance, yes indeed. But I doubt whether the HSDR was in service in the 17th century.

**Watchdog** · 03-31-2019, 06:16 PM

That's the regimental monogram of the Royal Regiment of Artillery (RA) and the characters either side are both R with the one on the right being reversed. The central character is of course A. It's not a royal cypher although regimental monograms are often taken as such.
I hope this helps.
Regards
Mark
PS Parade use etc

**Watchdog** · 03-31-2019, 06:42 PM

by Watchdog

That's the regimental monogram of the Royal Regiment of Artillery (RA) and the characters either side are both R with the one on the right being reversed. The central character is of course A. It's not a royal cypher although regimental monograms are often taken as such.
I hope this helps.
Regards
Mark
PS Parade use etc

PPS Come to think of it if these are turning up in Germany it may relate to visits by HM Queen. These are major events and there has been more than one by Queen Elizabeth II to the RA in Germany since 1945. I was serving in Dortmund when the RA were visited in 1984 at Napier Barracks (formerly Flughof Kaserne when the Luftwaffe lived there) and elements of all RA units in theatre took part. All kinds of mad stuff was done then including converting a Lance missile support vehicle into an escort vehicle in case the grass was too boggy for the Royal Rangerover (it wasn't in the end)
The HSDR was not road legal by then but it may have been used in barracks though I can't be sure.

**Watchdog** · 03-31-2019, 06:53 PM

Off topic I know but the old Napier Bks (aka Richthofen Kaserne) is now home to Borussia Dortmund Sv training facilities. Circle of life eh?

**Greg Pickersgill** · 03-31-2019, 07:40 PM

by Watchdog

That's the regimental monogram of the Royal Regiment of Artillery (RA) and the characters either side are both R with the one on the right being reversed. The central character is of course A. It's not a royal cypher although regimental monograms are often taken as such.

Well bloody hell. It's obvious once you know, isn't it. I'm absolutely useless as this sort of thing (I like my helmets nice and plain) so it would have taken me years to work this out by trial and error. Mind you the reversed 'R' wasn't helping...

Thanks *very* much Mark!

(As regards vintage, other than the actual date in the helmets one of them has been in a collection for somewhat over 30 years, so I would guess pre-1980.)