REGIMENTAL SHOULDER TITLES 1885-1965
Khaki Drill (K.D.) uniforms were issued in India in 1885 and it was on this dress that metal titles were first used by all ranks. Home service and other forms of dress at first had the title of the regiment stitched into the shoulder straps.
Embroidered titles were used on the service dress that was introduced in 1902; these were retained until 1907 when the Priced Vocabulary of Clothing and Necessaries for that year stated that embroidered titles would be replaced by metal. The Regulations go on to say that: Titles, etc, will be worn on the shoulder straps of tunics, S.D., and K.D. jackets, and greatcoats.'1
Khaki Drill (K.D.) uniforms were issued in India in 1885 and it was on this dress that metal titles were first used by all ranks. Home service and other forms of dress at first had the title of the regiment stitched into the shoulder straps.
Embroidered titles were used on the service dress that was introduced in 1902; these were retained until 1907 when the Priced Vocabulary of Clothing and Necessaries for that year stated that embroidered titles would be replaced by metal. The Regulations go on to say that: Titles, etc, will be worn on the shoulder straps of tunics, S.D., and K.D. jackets, and greatcoats.'1
1885 REGIMENTAL CHRONICLE
18th July - Metal Shoulder Badges, consisting of a brass bugle with "Oxford " in brass underneath, were taken into wear. These were given by the Officer Commanding, to be kept up by the men, and to be worn on khaki clothing.
The full dress tunics of the 1887-1902 period had on the shoulder straps the embroidered title of a French Horn over OXFORD. An almost exact replica of this title in metal was the first to be worn on the khaki service dress. By 1900 a smaller bugle/OXFORD had been introduced for other ranks, the officers having the same title but without the bugles.1
18th July - Metal Shoulder Badges, consisting of a brass bugle with "Oxford " in brass underneath, were taken into wear. These were given by the Officer Commanding, to be kept up by the men, and to be worn on khaki clothing.
The full dress tunics of the 1887-1902 period had on the shoulder straps the embroidered title of a French Horn over OXFORD. An almost exact replica of this title in metal was the first to be worn on the khaki service dress. By 1900 a smaller bugle/OXFORD had been introduced for other ranks, the officers having the same title but without the bugles.1
Other Ranks shoulder title c1899-1903
Officers Shoulder Title c1899-1903 worn on the Khaki Service Dress
Other ranks embroidered shoulder title worn on Khaki Service Dress below the shoulder straps 1902-1907. A seperate battalion numeral was worn below the title.
Photograph from the 1903 Regimental Chronicle showing the "new" 1902 Pattern Service Dress uniform. The title and numeral worn on top of the sleeve below the shoulder straps can be clearly seen.
Other Ranks Shoulder Title 1907-1908 and also recordered to be worn by the 2nd battalion until 1914
Other Ranks Shoulder Title c1908-1939
Other Ranks Brass Shoulder Title c1920-1939 & c1946-1954
Other Ranks Slip On Shoulder Title c1939-1943
All Ranks Embroidered Shoulder Title worn by the 2nd Battalion 1942-1943
Regimental Chronicle 1942
Jan 1942 - The Regiment was allowed to choose the style of regimental title to be worn on the shoulders in battledress. The title finally chosen was the word “Fifty-Second” in Regimental colours, which looked very well and was most popular with all ranks
1942 In December (1942) the 52nd lost its “Fifty-Second” shoulder title. The powers-that-be had noticed it and pronounced it highly irregular. Be that as it may, its loss was felt keenly by all ranks and the title “Oxf. Bucks” which replaced it was not received with any enthusiasm.
There are various accounts that despite the "official" loss of this title it continued to be worn within the battalion.
Regimental Chronicle 1942
Jan 1942 - The Regiment was allowed to choose the style of regimental title to be worn on the shoulders in battledress. The title finally chosen was the word “Fifty-Second” in Regimental colours, which looked very well and was most popular with all ranks
1942 In December (1942) the 52nd lost its “Fifty-Second” shoulder title. The powers-that-be had noticed it and pronounced it highly irregular. Be that as it may, its loss was felt keenly by all ranks and the title “Oxf. Bucks” which replaced it was not received with any enthusiasm.
There are various accounts that despite the "official" loss of this title it continued to be worn within the battalion.
All Ranks Embroidered cloth Shoulder Title 1943-1946
Also issued Printed on canvas
Also issued Printed on canvas
All Ranks Cloth Shoulder Ttile c1946-1950
1950 REGIMENTAL JOURNAL APRIL NUMBER 116
Dress
(c) Shoulder titles-worsted gold lettering OXF & BUCKS LT INFTY on a Light Infantry green backing.
Note. The War Office has ruled that in future the Regiment will wear the shoulder title OXF& BUCKS L. I., but that existing stocks of present shoulder titles will be used up. The new OXF & BUCKS L. I. designations will be an ordnance issue. Therefore at present the OXF & BUCKS LT INFTY shoulder titles will continue to be worn.
1950 REGIMENTAL JOURNAL APRIL NUMBER 116
Dress
(c) Shoulder titles-worsted gold lettering OXF & BUCKS LT INFTY on a Light Infantry green backing.
Note. The War Office has ruled that in future the Regiment will wear the shoulder title OXF& BUCKS L. I., but that existing stocks of present shoulder titles will be used up. The new OXF & BUCKS L. I. designations will be an ordnance issue. Therefore at present the OXF & BUCKS LT INFTY shoulder titles will continue to be worn.
All Ranks Cloth Shoulder Ttile c1950-1958
1950 REGIMENTAL JOURNAL APRIL NUMBER 116
Dress Regulations
Note. The War Office has ruled that in future the Regiment will wear the shoulder title OXF& BUCKS L. I., but that existing stocks of present shoulder titles will be used up. The new OXF & BUCKS L. I. designations will be an ordnance issue. Therefore at present the OXF & BUCKS LT INFTY shoulder titles will continue to be worn.
1953 REGIMENTAL CHRONICLE
Officers Dress Regulations
(b) Shoulder Titles
“Oxford & Bucks L.I.” in gold lettering on a Light Infantry green background.
1950 REGIMENTAL JOURNAL APRIL NUMBER 116
Dress Regulations
Note. The War Office has ruled that in future the Regiment will wear the shoulder title OXF& BUCKS L. I., but that existing stocks of present shoulder titles will be used up. The new OXF & BUCKS L. I. designations will be an ordnance issue. Therefore at present the OXF & BUCKS LT INFTY shoulder titles will continue to be worn.
1953 REGIMENTAL CHRONICLE
Officers Dress Regulations
(b) Shoulder Titles
“Oxford & Bucks L.I.” in gold lettering on a Light Infantry green background.
Other Ranks White Metal Shoulder Title 1954-1958
All Ranks cloth shoulder title worn by all members of the Green Jackets Brigade 1958-1965
All Ranks Black Metal Shoulder Titles worn by 1st Green Jackets (43rd & 52nd) 1958-1965
Sources
Various volumes of the Regimental Chronicles of the Oxfordshire Light Infantry and the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry 1892-1965
1. Collecting Metal Shoulder Titles by Ray Westlake