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The Tank Corps
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The Badge of the Heavy Branch, MGC,
The Tank Corps and The Royal Tank Corps
(Later The Royal Tank Regiment)
Each Regiment in the British Army then as it is today has it own unique Regiment or Corps Badge. Originally all Tank Units of the British Army of WWI belonged to the Heavy Branch, Machine Gun Corps and as such were issued the Machine Gun Corps Badge. The MG Corps Badge consisted of two crossed Vickers MGs under a crown, though seconded Officers tended to wear the Badges of their original units. The Badge of the MGC, as worn by the Heavy Branch, is shown below
On the 28 July 1917 all the Tank units of the British Army came under the control of the newly formed Tank Corps. As the tanks were no longer a part of the MGC, a new Badge was adopted which uniquely identified the new Arm.
The Tank Corps Badge remained the same until 18 Oct 1923 when the Corps was retitled the Royal Tank Corps and a new badge was adopted to reflect the change in Title. Initially the Tank faced the right (as on the 1917 Badge). This was changed when the Beret was introduced as the standard headdress of the corps, as it appeared that the Tank was running away, so the Tank was shown facing left after that.
This remained the standard badge until 4 April 1939, when the Royal Armoured Corps (RAC) was formed and it absorbed the RTC, the Cavalry and the Yeomanry Units of the British Army. The RTC became the Royal Tank Regiment and adopted the RAC badge, though the RTC Badge remained its Regimental Badge and still is to this date (with minor alterations).
Copyright Stuart Groombridge
All Rights Reserved 2000
Created 23rd April 2000
Last updated 17th November 2000
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