Ordnance Insignia of the British Army

Gorget Patches

Conductor Army Ordnance Corps Gorget Patches

There seems to be no direct evidence as to when the practice started, but from circa 1898 to 1909, Conductors and Sub-Conductors wore gorget patches on khaki drill, the patches being dark blue edged with 1/8 inch scarlet material, worn with AOD Departmental Gilt Buttons. For some years therefore it would appear that these warrant officers wore both rank badges and gorget patches on their khaki drill frocks.

Drawing of a c1889 Ordnance Conductors, Red Edged Dark Blue Gorget Patch.

Army Officers Coloured Gorget Patches
RAOC Officers Dark Blue Gorget Patch

Extract from a 1940 pamphlet ‘ Rank and Badges in the Navy, Army, RAF and Auxiliaries’ describing the difference between a Full Colonel and Lieut.Colonels Rank Insignia and Cap Embellishments. with a Red Gorget Patch with Scarlet Gimp pictured, in this case with a General Officer of the Line Gilt Button.
Note that the RAOC is still described as being a Dark Blue Gorget.

Cloth Gorget patches were first worn in 1887 with the Khaki Drill Uniform, By general officers and certain staff officers in India.
By 1913 Gorget Patches were being worn by all Staff Officers in certain appointments, even down to subaltern level.
In 1921 this proliferation of Gorget Patches was contained, and restricted to Full Colonels and above only.


A - Red & Gold Bullion Gorget Patch for Field Marshal and General Officers for Service Dress
(Only the design of the gorget button differs)

B - Smaller version with Gold Cord for Shirt Sleeve Order.

C - Drawing of Pre 1921 Ordnance Staff Officers & Pre 1940 Full Colonels RAOC , Dark Blue Patch.

D - Red Gorget Patch with Scarlet Gimp, for Brigadiers and Full Colonels. for Service Dress
as used by Colonels RAOC post 1940

E - As above but Medium for No1 Dress

F - As above but Small for Shirt Sleeve Order (This smaller size was also worn with Battle Dress)

M Comerford - August 2003 - HTML Revision 1