British Royal Artillery Cap Badges

As I make these WWI British Cap badge posts, I think I’d be remiss if I failed to cover the artillery. I’ve never set out to collect the artillery; they just sort of accumulated. The cap badge shows a British nine pounder field gun, and instead of listing major battle honors, the top scroll simply says “UBIQUE”, meaning “everywhere” The bottom scroll translates “Wherever right and glory lead.” The insignia design didn’t change between world wars, so I can’t say these are all WWI, except as noted.

1. The attaching shank or “slider” on the back of this is longer than usual, a feature found on early issue WWI badges.

2. This one has WWI character! The crown and the sides have been curved backwards. This made the badge better fit the soft trench cap. Another soldier field modification is the clipped off bottom of the slider, another effort to make the badge fit better and more comfortably (photo 2) This badge came stateside after WWI as an American Doughboy’s souvenir.

3. Some Royal Artillery badges come with a separate wheel that can turn (photo 3). I’m not sure how long these were made, but they were around during WWI.

4. This one has a hairpin style slider and strengthening wire, a version made during WWI (photo 4).

5. This badge has been polished to the point where some of the detail has been worn away.