Royal Malta Artillery Collar Badge / Malta Home Guard Cap Badge

An ornate Maltese cross with two dark toned loops to the reverse. Circa 3.5cm across. Renfrew et al in Volume 1 " British Colonial Badges " states this was the collar badge of the Royal Malta Artillery. However, in an article in M.H.S. Bulletin no.269 August 2017 by Dennis Darmanian (photo on p18) he claims this as an alternate badge as worn by the Malta Home Guard.

The Malta Volunteer Defence Force did not wear any particular uniform but civilian dress, mainly their normal daily attire. They were issued a ‘Brodie’ steel helmet, and recognised by an armband with the letter ‘V’. The authorities wished for the men to be dressed in overalls as in the United Kingdom, but at a later date they were issued with dark khaki denim battle fatigues and not all units wore armbands. This uniform was found better suited than the thick serge battledress, especially in hot weather. They also wore the standard issue khaki barathea field service cap, with a distinctive Maltese Cross badge (but there were several types of which this was one).

B74

Code: 57917