Badge Identity

Hi all,

Compliments of the Season to all.

This is a mystery badge which looks like a 'home made' job.

Just in case any ideas?

Regards

Hi Rick,
Seasonal greetings to you too.
That is an interesting crest and I think you're correct when you say 'homemade'.

The shape is very unusual in that it is hexagonal.

From 1918 - 1939, there were standard shapes and they all had their own meanings

Circular - Capital Ships [The circle represents the ring around Britain from the ?oak walls? defending British shores.]

Pentagonal - Cruisers [The pentagon represents the Five Oceans that cruisers sail upon.]

Shield - Destroyers [These ships carry a shield as they are defending (shielding) the capital ships of the fleet.]

Diamond - Support Ships [In traditional heraldry, a diamond represents a maiden. Support ships are considered to be the maids of all work in the fleet.]

In 1940 the designs for all commissioned ships of the Royal Navy were standardized to a circular design due to wartime pressures.

From 1945 to the present-

Circular - Commissioned ships.
Pentagonal - Royal Fleet Aux.
Diamond - Commissioned Shore Bases.

Can't find any crest with a snail on yet but it may be just a spoof crest.

Nick

Hi Nic,

A lot of unofficial badges never followed the rules unfortunately.

See Attached from the HMS Prince Baudouin.

The Snail badge I posted is being held by a Museum and I will email them to find out more about it.

Regards

Just a thought on this. I have read that the Snail brand of tool manufacturers Thomas Smith & Sons was widely used by aircraft, motor, and marine engineers and included the UK Armed Forces in WW2. This photo is from Graces Guide: http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/File:Im1938BIF-Thomas.jpg