Ordnance Insignia of the British Army

WO1 (Conductor) Badges of Appontment.

It is hard to say with 100% certainty that any badge was worn by a Conductor AOC As this extract from Army Order 70 shows, It was not only the Conductor AOC that wore the Crown in Wreath during World War One (The Royal Arms in Laurel Wreath was not introduced until 1918, but the references were the same then other than the change of badge) A picture of a circular Royal Arms which would seem to suggest it may have been worn by a Sub-Conductor is also in my photo archive, But again unless a picture turns up with it being worn, It can only be conjecture as to its use. It is of special interest that the appointments of 'Academy Serjeant Major' (Sandhurst or Woolwich) or 'Garrison Serjeant Major London District' did not exist, or were not held in such high regard as they are today.

Extract from Army Order 70 of 1915

Examples of Post 1902 Kings 'Crown in Laurel Wreath' Arm Badge in worsted and brass.
These are the style of badges worn during W.W.1 by Conductors AOC.

Post 1918 'Kings Crown' Brass Arm Badge, and Blackened example for Overseas Khaki Service Dress.

Post 1918 'Kings Crown' small worsted examples.

Unknown small 'Kings Crown' oval worsted example.
May be an Indian Army example.

Post 1952 'Queens Crown' small worsted examples.

Post 1952 'Queens Crown' large worsted example, without coloured border.
Use unknown, But may have been, Staff Sergeant Major First Class, RASC, as no Yellow Bordered examples have been noted.

1953 Pattern Arm Badge in Red Border & 1978 Reject Arm Badge
Worn on Service No2 Dress and 'Pullover Order'

The 1978 Arm Badge was Rejected due to its overall appearance and design.
However as quite a number had already been produced,
it was decided to allow them to be used, until stocks were exhausted around 1988.

Two examples of post 1988  '1953 Pattern'  Arm Badges - Note colour difference of Wreath

Small ‘Mess Dress’ Scarlet Bullion Badge & ‘Number One Dress’ Scarlet Bullion Arm Badge

Post 1953 'Queens Crown' Brass Arm Badge with at the right
Anodised Aluminium version with Red Felt backing on Leather Wristband
as used when in ‘Shirt Sleeve Order'

Woven Arm Badge for 1970 Pattern DPM Combat Jacket.
Black on Green for Temperate or Jungle Combat Dress
Brown on Sand for Desert Combat Dress
(While still current issue, they have been replaced by the DPM Rank Slide when 'Soldier 95' is worn)

Current Issue 'Soldier 95' DPM Rank Slide.
(Introduced post 1993 for Conductors RLC)

M Comerford - August 2003 - HTML Revision 2