The International Association of Amateur Heralds

PART 2 : OTHER COMMONWEALTH COUNTRIES

When India and the various dominions (now called "realms") established their own navies, they followed the Royal Navy model closely in most respects, including badges. As they began to assert their own identities, they adapted the RN format to make their badges nationally distinctive.

The circular frame remains the most widely used format, but some countries have adopted pentagonal frames for specific classes of ship or types of unit. Some have modified the naval crown by making the sails white instead of gold.

Here are some examples :

India -- The Royal Indian Navy version, introduced during World War II, with rays of the sun in place of the frame of rope ... and the post-republic Indian Navy design, from c1950, with a different type of naval crown, and a frame of lotus flowers in place of the rays :


> HMIS Narbada (sloop) (c1942)


> INS Teg (frigate)


> INS Mysore (destroyer) : pentagonal badges have been introduced for destroyers.

[Lots more Indian Navy badges here : http://amateurheralds.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=915.]

Canada -- The Royal Canadian Navy version, introduced in 1946, with white sails on the naval crown, and maple leaves at the base of the frame (and wings at the top, in the case of the now-defunct naval air squadrons) :


> HMCS Discovery (reserve unit) (1940s) : a canting design ("disc over Y")


> 21 Squadron FAA

Australia -- The Royal Australian Navy format, designed in 1947, differs considerably from the others, with white sails on the naval crown, a name scroll rather than a plaque, a trophy of Aboriginal weapons below the frame, and a motto scroll. Since 1967, shore establishments have had a different pattern, which omits the name scroll and the trophy and places the name on a circlet around the badge :


> HMAS Ipswich (patrol boat) : a canting design


> Navy HQ South Australia (shore establishment) : the South Australian state arms.

[You'll find an interesting article on the history of RAN badges here : http://www.nxtbook.com/faircount/RoyalAustralianNavy/RAN100/index.php?startid=90.]

Pakistan -- A Royal Pakistan Navy design, dating from c1947, with the ship's name in a circlet around the badge ... and the post-republic Pakistan Navy version (c1956) with a name plaque, and a star and crescent in place of the naval crown :


> HMPS Zulfiquar (frigate) : named after the legendary sword of the caliph Ali


> PNS Zulfiquar : the post-republic version.

Ceylon / Sri Lanka -- The Royal Ceylon Navy version, introduced c1950, with the crown of Kandy in place of the naval crown ... and the post-republic Sri Lanka Navy pattern, with the dharmacakra symbol from the state emblem in place of the crown :


> HMCyS Parakrama (shore establishment) : named after an historical king


> SLNS Sayura (patrol boat) : depicting the boat herself.

New Zealand -- The Royal New Zealand Navy version, which dates from 1953, with two fern fronds at the base of the frame :


> HMNZS Toroa (reserve unit) : 'toroa' is the Maori name for an albatross.

South Africa -- The South African Navy version, introduced in 1956, with the lion crest of the national arms in place of the naval crown ... and the post-2002 version, with the secretary-bird crest of the new national arms :


> SAS Sonneblom (shore establishment) : 'sonneblom' is Afrikaans for 'sunflower'


> Naval Logistics Command : pentagonal frames indicate HQ units


> SAS Isandhlwana (frigate) : alluding to a battle in the 1879 Anglo-Zulu War.

As for the SAS Isandhlwana named as mentioned for the Battle. The Sphinx features in the Badge of the 24th Regiment of Foot (after the 1881 Childers Reforms South Wales Borderers), whose 1st Battalion was nearly wiped out by the Zulus. The later symbolised by the Spear (altough many Zulus in the Battle acctualy was armed with Firearms).



Badge of the shortlived Royal East African Navy 1957-62. It combindes the Emblems of Kenya, Uganda, Tanganyika and Zanzibar which was to have been united in an East African Federation. This never come about, and the REAN was stillborn one can say. The Badge is interesting in the use of the Royal Crown instead of a type of Ships crown. The Naval Connection is to be seen in the Rope that surround the Badge.

Marcus Karlsson wrote:Badge of the shortlived Royal East African Navy 1957-62. It combindes the Emblems of Kenya, Uganda, Tanganyika and Zanzibar which was to have been united in an East African Federation. This never come about, and the REAN was stillborn one can say. The Badge is interesting in the use of the Royal Crown instead of a type of Ships crown. The Naval Connection is to be seen in the Rope that surround the Badge.

Thanks for that addition, Marcus. I hadn't heard of this proposed federal navy.

Marcus Karlsson wrote:As for the SAS Isandhlwana named as mentioned for the Battle. The Sphinx features in the Badge of the 24th Regiment of Foot (after the 1881 Childers Reforms South Wales Borderers), whose 1st Battalion was nearly wiped out by the Zulus.

In case anyone is wondering, the sphinx has nothing to do with Wales. It represents the 24th Foot's participation in the 1801 Egyptian campaign during the Napoleonic wars.