huntssurplus Posted March 14, 2020 Share #1 Posted March 14, 2020 Hello, Thought I would ask a question about the commonality of branch-specific colored collar disc borders on WW2 uniforms? I know it was more of an official thing in the 1950s and onward, but I have heard and seen in other threads of uniforms with the branch colored collar discs being used during WW2. Apparently it was unit by unit, but I was wondering if it was possible for any soldier deciding they wanted to place a collar disc border on their uniform for whatever reason? I know the regulations were a lot more lax as there was just so many soldiers it was hard to police regulations and so it was common for non-regulation uniform pieces and stuff to slip through the cracks but is this something that was actually seen at all or only a post-war thing?Thanks Hunt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wake1941 Posted March 15, 2020 Share #2 Posted March 15, 2020 This was actually done from WW1 onward, they used felt disc at this time. I dont think many unit used it wartime during ww2. But it gained popularity during the occupation period. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huntssurplus Posted March 15, 2020 Author Share #3 Posted March 15, 2020 This was actually done from WW1 onward, they used felt disc at this time. I dont think many unit used it wartime during ww2. But it gained popularity during the occupation period. Would plastic discs be an exclusively post war thing? Hunt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wake1941 Posted March 15, 2020 Share #4 Posted March 15, 2020 I would say for the most part, early occupation. But they couldve been used late in the war. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huntssurplus Posted March 15, 2020 Author Share #5 Posted March 15, 2020 I would say for the most part, early occupation. But they couldve been used late in the war. Okay great thank you very much for answering my questions! Hunt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QED4 Posted March 16, 2020 Share #6 Posted March 16, 2020 I can't find a reference right now but I am pretty sure the felt discs behind the collar discs used right after WWI were not keyed to branch color. They were used like the Civil War colored corps badges, not the division within the corps but in this case the brigade or battalion (can't remember which) with in the division. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doyler Posted March 16, 2020 Share #7 Posted March 16, 2020 Have a WW1 uniform with the red ovals behinde the discs.Its a bit of a mash up but left as found out of a trunk in the early 1980s.Its an 88th division summer weight jacket.Has a black and red MP armband on one sleeve.The vet also placed his VFW armband on the other sleeve and VFW medals on it.Looks like he wore the uniform post war to conventions etc.Have read where the red discs were used by the Military Police in WW1.His camo painted helmet also has cross sabres on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted March 17, 2020 Share #8 Posted March 17, 2020 http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/197787-wwi-collar-discs-with-branch-color-cloth-backing/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted March 17, 2020 Share #9 Posted March 17, 2020 There a photo in Keller's Army patch book of a late 20s into the 30s Soldier of the New York National Guard's 105th Infantry, 27th Division, wearing what are backings on his discs and cap device, color? it's light colored, so first guess is Infantry Blue, though it could be White, the branch color of the infantry in two different time periods (1776-1851) and (1886-1902). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
copper252 Posted March 17, 2020 Share #10 Posted March 17, 2020 I have seen multiple uniforms and photos of them being worn in Artillery and Infantry colors in the 43rd and 25th Infantry Divisions just before WWII. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted March 18, 2020 Share #11 Posted March 18, 2020 Figured going ahead on Scanning these for their important reference points. From Mr Keller's book on Army patches. The aforementioned 1930s mentioned Soldier of the 105th Inf 27th Div, a 1st Sergeant wearing the discs on the collar and cap, on looking it does now seem to be Inf Blue rather than White. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted March 18, 2020 Share #12 Posted March 18, 2020 And this WWI Infantry Soldier, of an unknown unit of 3rd Army in Germany, wearing Blue Discs behind the Collar Discs. As a member of a Non Divisional Infantry Organization, he must be in one of the Pioneer Infantry Regiments, which were Army Troops, or the Third Army Composite Regiment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted January 15, 2021 Share #13 Posted January 15, 2021 A 1930s Old Timer, a Master Sergeant along with an equally long serving Staff Sergeant are wearing colored backings, seems to be QM discs right, so Buff? unit and year unfortunately not known. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dc9 Posted January 8, 2022 Share #14 Posted January 8, 2022 Hello All, Here is a 1936 dated EM Visor Cap made by the Philadelphia Uniform Co., with an Artillery, Red Plastic branch disc. The cap is a really nice peaked example with a back strap. Enjoy! Eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted February 23, 2022 Share #15 Posted February 23, 2022 Here's one from a 20s movie, 1927, called Rookies, the backing looks dark like Red. in other stills they have what are 3rd Division patches on the actors too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted February 23, 2022 Share #16 Posted February 23, 2022 This just found still we see again the backing discs, this time on the collars of an OD shirt, plus actor wears a Campaign Hat with Branch Cord Dark and and a Light Color looks like, so perhaps Engineers, Red and White? Wearing some king of insignia on the chest there almost looks like the Army Ground Forces patch, which would of been called the General Headquarters patch in WWI and after. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wake1941 Posted February 23, 2022 Share #17 Posted February 23, 2022 1 hour ago, patches said: This just found still we see again the backing discs, this time on the collars of an OD shirt, plus actor wears a Campaign Hat with Branch Cord Dark and and a Light Color looks like, so perhaps Engineers, Red and White? Wearing some king of insignia on the chest there almost looks like the Army Ground Forces patch, which would of been called the General Headquarters patch in WWI and after. Civilian Military Training Corps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted August 14, 2022 Share #18 Posted August 14, 2022 Yellow backings 1st Cavalry, 30s when the unit was in the 7th Cavalry Brigade (Mechanized) we presume. though we suspect the tie and possibly the shirt are not original too this coat, tie would be Black, shirt usually White. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atb Posted August 14, 2022 Share #19 Posted August 14, 2022 I have a WW1 occupation period uniform coat with Third Army SSI for an Ordnance Corps soldier. It has black and red felt backings behind the collar discs. The use of branch of service colored backings was a post WW1 practice in the Army of Occupation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted November 3, 2023 Share #20 Posted November 3, 2023 On 2/22/2022 at 11:54 PM, Wake1941 said: Civilian Military Training Corps And the Cap Cord on the Hat does indeed look like the Civilian Military Training Camp hat cords Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted December 15, 2023 Share #21 Posted December 15, 2023 A 30s set for A Battery 15th Coast Artillery, a Hawaii based unit back then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted March 2 Share #22 Posted March 2 A very well made Branch Disc from the 20s-30s, Infantry Blue, a Screwback, note how the disc proper is countersunk from the Infantry Blue Enameled Border, Too bad the matching Crossed Rifles were not found with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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