New Zealand Specialist Reinforcement Drafts from World War 1
"Specialists" were soldiers who received training outside the three main streams, i.e. not Infantry, Mounted Rifles or New Zealand Rifle Brigade.
I have groups these badges together as they cover Signalers, Machine Gunners, Medical Corps, Veterinarian Corps, Cyclist Corps, Chaplains and Musicians.
These soldiers were to receive further specialised training in either the UK, or France, and then again when they joined their units.
I have groups these badges together as they cover Signalers, Machine Gunners, Medical Corps, Veterinarian Corps, Cyclist Corps, Chaplains and Musicians.
These soldiers were to receive further specialised training in either the UK, or France, and then again when they joined their units.
Specialist Reinforcement
- Above: First Type - A generic specialist reinforcement Cap badge. It does not seem to have been worn with any corresponding Collar badges. The previous owner provided me the details of the soldier who's estate this badge came from, hence the paper tag.
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- Above: Second type - A generic specialist reinforcement Cap badge and Collar badges. All are gilt brass, and have wire or hex type lugs to back.
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- Opposite: Three Cap badges depicting the 3rd type of Specialist Reinforcement badge. All show slight variations:
- Left: A rarer bi-metal Cap badge to the Specialists, with white metal center on a gilt brass frame.
- Middle: A scarce all gilt brass variation. Note the crown joins mid-way by the fern border, which is much wider than the version to the right.
- Above Right: An all gilt brass, single piece Cap badge depicting crossed signal flags over a Machine Gun. This is the most commonly encountered type.
All have two hex type, brass lugs to back.
- Left: A rarer bi-metal Cap badge to the Specialists, with white metal center on a gilt brass frame.
- Middle: A scarce all gilt brass variation. Note the crown joins mid-way by the fern border, which is much wider than the version to the right.
- Above Right: An all gilt brass, single piece Cap badge depicting crossed signal flags over a Machine Gun. This is the most commonly encountered type.
All have two hex type, brass lugs to back.
- Opposite: Collar badges to the Specialist Reinforcement Drafts.
- Left and Center: A matching pair of single piece, gilt brass collar badges to the Specialist Reinforcement Drafts. Both have 2 brass hex type lugs to back.
- Right: A variation in design of the collar to the Specialist Reinforcement Draft. Note the different fond wreath and the smaller "NZ" to base. Looped wire lugs to back.
- Left and Center: A matching pair of single piece, gilt brass collar badges to the Specialist Reinforcement Drafts. Both have 2 brass hex type lugs to back.
- Right: A variation in design of the collar to the Specialist Reinforcement Draft. Note the different fond wreath and the smaller "NZ" to base. Looped wire lugs to back.
- Left and Center: A matching pair of single piece, non-void gilt brass collar badges to the Specialist Reinforcement Drafts. Both have 2 brass hex type lugs to back.
- Right: A scarce variation in copper on either white metal or silver (not marked) to the Specialist Reinforcement Draft. Small hex lugs to back. |
- Above: A Sweethearts badge, collar size in 9ct Gold & Silver to the Specialist Reinforcements.
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NZ Veterinarian Reinforcements
- Opposite: A scarce 2 piece, Veterinarian Corps reinforcement gilt brass cap badge. I have seen a handful of these over the years of collecting. All appear to be on this frame, but can also be non-void to center, which has the monogram of NZVC or New Zealand Veterinarian Corps. I have never seen any corresponding Collars for this badge.
NZ Medical Reinforcements
- Opposite: A pair of 2 piece NZ Medical reinforcement cap badges.
Both are gilt brass, and have a standard gilt brass reinforcement frame which has had a New Zealand Medical Corps Cap badge sweated onto the front. The lugs of the cap badge have been clipped/cut off. The reinforcement frame has either wire or hex type lugs to back.
I have not yet seen a corresponding collar badges to the Medical Reinforcements.
Both are gilt brass, and have a standard gilt brass reinforcement frame which has had a New Zealand Medical Corps Cap badge sweated onto the front. The lugs of the cap badge have been clipped/cut off. The reinforcement frame has either wire or hex type lugs to back.
I have not yet seen a corresponding collar badges to the Medical Reinforcements.
NZ Cyclist Reinforcements
The NZ Cyclist Corps formed in 1916, with reinforcement drafts beginning to train that year.
- Above: A Cap badge to the New Zealand Cycle Corps. This pattern of badge was apparently used prior to WW1 by some New Zealand Volunteer units in the 1902 to 1914 period. Sadly records of who, have been lost. It appears that it was offered as a private purchase badge to NZ Cyclist Reinforcements. It also comes in a rather rare White metal on Copper version. Two brass wire looped lugs to back. No maker mark.
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- Above: The iconic winged bicycle Cap badge in darkened brass. Worn by New Zealand Cyclist Reinforcements. Note the "N.Z. Cyclist Company" banner. It has a RD or Registered Design mark of "RD 838-9" on either side of the tire, under the "N.Z" banner. Two hex type brass lugs to back.
- Above: A pair of darkened brass Collar badges to the New Zealand Cyclist Reinforcements. Again, both have a RD or Registered Design mark of "RD 838-9" on either side of the tire, under the "N.Z" banner. Two hex type brass lugs to back on each.
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NZ Field Artillery Reinforcements
The New Zealand Field Artillery had their own Reinforcement drafts during WW1. Being a private purchase item, their badge could have been any of the badges which have been covered in the Infantry Reinforcement section on the website. From pictures taken at the time, it looks likely that they wore the standard New Zealand Artillery Cap badge (NZ to top scroll) and the small flaming grenade Collar badges.
Some of the Sweetheart badges do though record the draft numbers.
Some of the Sweetheart badges do though record the draft numbers.
- Above: A Gold and gilt brass sweethearts badge to the New Zealand Field Artillery. Marked "9Ct" to back of center, it has a brooch fitting to back.
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- Above: Another generic type of New Zealand Field Artillery Sweethearts Badge. Gold to center on a silver frame.
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- Above: Some of these badges are superbly marked. Here is the back of the opposite badge, with two separate small plaques, "St Sil" for Sterling Silver on the frame, and "9ct" for 9 Carat gold to back of center. Brooch fitting to back.
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- Above Left: A Gold and Silver Sweethearts badge to the 16th NZ Field Artillery Reinforcement Draft. Marked "ST. STG." to back of crown, and with a brooch fitting.
- Above Right: A small size version of the New Zealand Field Artillery Cap badge worn during WW1. This is very faintly marked to "Stirling Silver" to back, just below the Gun's wheel. Brooch fitting to back. |
- Above Left: - A two piece, Stirling Silver Sweethearts badge to the 17th Reinforcement draft of the NZ Field Artillery. A small plaque to back of crown which has "ST. STG." for Stirling Silver. Brooch fitting also to back.
- Above Right: A Rose Gold and Silver fern with the letters NZFA for New Zealand Field Artillery. A brooch fitting to back, though the pin is missing. No marker or hallmark. |
- Opposite: A Gold and Silver Sweethearts badge to the 29th New Zealand Field Artillery Reinforcement Draft. Marked "Stg. Silver." to back of frame, and "9ct" to back of "N.Z.F.A." banner. A brooch fitting also to back. Note the plaque to top, which has been engraved with the draft number "29".
NZ Army Chaplain Reinforcements
- Opposite: A rather scarce collar badge to a New Zealand (Christian) Army Chaplain associated with the WW1 Reinforcement drafts. I have not yet come across any information on this badge, other than seeing a couple over the years. It is probably made for the badge collectors market at the time. Certainly the New Zealand Army had a Chaplains Department, and they would have been a presents at the Reinforcement training camps during WW1, just as Chaplains served overseas with the NZEF in France, the UK and Middle East.
This badge is in darkened copper, 2 piece, with a hand-cut cross added to center.
This badge is in darkened copper, 2 piece, with a hand-cut cross added to center.