Regimental badges are one of the most distinguishable parts of a military man's attire. Also known as head badges, cap badges, or simply as a hat badge, this kind of badge does not only serve aesthetic purposes; on the contrary, this is primarily used for designation purposes. Usually, a regimental badge marks the nationality of the wearer, as well as the specific military organization or department in which he serves in. This makes it easier for the wearer to differentiate himself from other nationalities, or from personnel belonging to other military organizations in that matter. Regimental badges are commonly sewn to the headgear of the personnel wearing it. Aside from military personnel, this kind of badge is usually used by the police, by girl and boy scouts, and even by rescue units and paramedical personnel.
One of the earliest military organizations known to use regimental badges is the British Army. In fact, it is widely accepted by military and cultural historians that it is the British Army where the practice of wearing such kind of badges originated. Personnel of the British Army used this badge to identify their own regiment, and distinguish themselves from the members of other regiments. As presently practiced by most military personnel around the world, British Army regiments also had their badges sewn in their respective headgears. As a result from this practice, certain terminologies was actually coined in reference to the different regimental badges used by British Army personnels;including the "caps tar" worn by members of the Cold Stream Guards, the "motto" badge used by the different regiments, and the "cipher" badge used by the members of the Royal Horse Artillery.
Early regimental badges were made of metals. However, as time progressed, the configuration of these badges also changed. At the onset of the Second World War, most regimental badges were already made of plastic, due in part to the large demand of metal by traditional wartime industries, most especially the armaments industry. In addition to that, plastic badges were also seen to eliminate some of the most common problems associated with metal-made badges, including rustiness and other maintenance issues.
As regimental badges were adopted by many armed forces around the world, variations on how it is made also appeared. Usually, high commissioned officers of the military such as generals, colonels and admirals wore badges made of precious metals, including enamel, gilt, and even precious metals such as silver. In contrast, lower ranked military officers and regular soldiers had their badges made of cheaper materials, such as plastic. In addition, designs for these kinds of badges also developed, with some badges featuring embroidered and embossed designs. For men in the frontline, they usually have their badges darkened especially during wartime, in order for them not to easily attract the attention of the enemy. In peace time however, both high commissioned officers and lower ranked military personnel wear very visible badges; this is not used only indicate their rank and position, but also to gain the respect and attention that they deserve from peers and colleagues alike.
John Handson is sales manager of one of the custom badges manufacturers,he writes many articles about badges.
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