A pair of Army Chaplains’ Department (Christian Division) officers’ collar badges, 1st pattern, executed in a blackened finish and featuring the King’s Crown. These badges display the department’s distinctive emblem in clear relief, incorporating a Maltese cross on a square background, surmounted by the royal crown, reflecting ecclesiastical service within the military.
The Army Chaplains’ Department provided spiritual and pastoral care to servicemen, with Christian chaplains serving across all branches of the armed forces. The King’s Crown denotes issue during the reigns of monarchs such as King George V and King George VI, placing these badges within the early to mid-twentieth-century period. British forces and chaplains serving with Commonwealth armies, including Canadian and Australian units, wore this pattern.
Officers’ collar badges of this type were worn on service dress uniforms in pairs, indicating branch and role rather than regimental affiliation. The blackened finish is characteristic of subdued or service wear, reducing reflectivity while maintaining a clear definition of the insignia.
This pair, made of blackened brass and featuring reverse fittings for collar attachment, provides a well-defined representation of Commonwealth military chaplaincy insignia. Such badges are collected as examples of religious service in the armed forces, corps insignia, and twentieth-century military dress.
Dimensions
Approx. 30–35mm height each
Condition
Very good overall condition with consistent finish across the pair and clear detailing. Minor signs of age-related wear may be present. Reverse fittings remain intact and secure. No significant damage or repairs are evident.
