Ordnance badges in the United Kingdom and many present and former Commonwealth countries indeed have their origins in the Coat of Arms of the Board of Ordnance. The Board of Ordnance was a British government department responsible for the supply and maintenance of the army’s ordnance and equipment. Its coat of arms and insignia were adopted for use on various military badges and insignia. Here’s some additional information about this history:

Coat of Arms of the Board of Ordnance: The Board of Ordnance adopted its coat of arms, which featured various elements symbolizing its role in supplying and managing ordnance, in the 17th century.

• Royal Approval: While the badge came into use in the 17th century, it wasn’t officially granted royal approval until 1806. This royal approval signified official recognition and authorization for the use of the coat of arms on military items and badges.
• Confirmation by the College of Arms: In 1823, the Arms of the Board of Ordnance were confirmed by a grant from the College of Arms. The College of Arms is the official body responsible for regulating and granting coats of arms in England, and its confirmation further solidified the legitimacy of the badge.
• Commonwealth Adoption: As the British Empire expanded and evolved, the badge of the Board of Ordnance was often adopted by Commonwealth countries that were part of the empire. These countries included Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and various African and Caribbean nations. The use of this badge by Commonwealth forces helped maintain a sense of continuity and tradition within the military.
• Legacy: While the Board of Ordnance itself was disbanded in the 19th century, its coat of arms and insignia continue to be part of the military heritage of the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth countries. These badges are often seen on military uniforms, especially on items related to logistics, supply, and ordnance.

The adoption of the Board of Ordnance’s coat of arms and insignia into the military traditions of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth countries reflects the historical significance of this organisation in supplying and equipping armed forces. It also underscores the continuity and historical ties among these nations within the Commonwealth.

The insignia of the Board of Ordnance comprises the following elements:

Shield

• Background: The shield features a blue background.
• Field Pieces: Three gold field pieces (cannons or artillery pieces) are displayed on the blue background.
• Cannonballs: In the top portion of the shield, there are three silver/white cannonballs, likely representing ammunition or firepower.

Crest

• Silver/White Crown: Rising from a silver/white crown is a right arm.
• Grasping a Thunderbolt: The right arm is grasping a thunderbolt.
• Wings Against a Flaming Background: The design includes wings against a flaming background. This imagery could symbolize the power, speed, and force associated with the work of the Board of Ordnance.

Supporters

• Cyclops Figures: The supporters are two cyclops figures, each with a specific tool. Certain accounts describe the cyclops figures as England’s legendary guardians, Gog and Magog, who are believed to awaken in times of national peril. Additionally, there is historical reference to the use of the names Gog and Magog for the barges used to transport sizable cannons up the River Thames for testing purposes.
• Right-hand Cyclops: The right-hand cyclops is holding a hammer, symbolizing craftsmanship or construction.
• Left-hand Cyclops: The left-hand cyclops is holding a pair of forceps, possibly representing precision or delicate work.
• Resting on the Shoulder: Each cyclops rests their respective tools on their shoulder, emphasizing their readiness to carry out their tasks.

Motto

• In the Riband: The motto is written in a riband, a narrow band or scroll.
• Motto Translation: The Latin motto “sua tela tonanti” is loosely translated as “To the warrior his arms.” This motto underscores the organization’s commitment to providing arms and equipment to support military efforts.

The standard component of the Coat of Arms featured on Ordnance cap badges consists of a shield adorned with three cannons and three cannonballs. Variations of these badges may include a riband below the shield, bearing either the Corps motto or a descriptor of the corps to which the insignia belongs.

In the early versions of Australian and New Zealand Ordnance badges, an annulus encircled the shield, inside of which was inscribed the name of the respective Corps.

Internationally, many Ordnance badges have included national identifiers placed above the shield. For instance, Canada featured a beaver on their 1903 badge, and New Zealand used the letters “NZ” on various versions of their badge.

A consistent characteristic of these badges is that the cannons are always directed to the right (known as “Dexter” in heraldic terms). However, there are exceptions, such as the New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps (1917-23) and South Africa Ordnance Corps (1923-33) badges, where the cannons face to the left (known as “Sinister” in heraldic terms).

Upon receiving Royal status, most badges received two additional features. First, permission was granted to display the Royal garter in a buckled circle or oval, bearing the motto “Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense.” Translated from Old French, this motto means “Shame be to him who thinks evil of it.” It can also be interpreted as “Evil (or shame) be to him that evil thinks” or “shame on anyone who thinks ill of it.”

Second, the badges incorporated crowns to signify the reigning monarchs:

• From 1918 to 1953, the Tudor or “Kings Crown” was used on badges.
• Starting in 1953, the St. Edward’s or “Queens crown” became the standard for these insignias.

These details contribute to the rich history and symbolism of Ordnance badges, reflecting changes in royal representation and the unique attributes of each corps.

Listed below are examples of some of the various ordnance badges of the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, India and South Africa. Examples of New Zealand pages can be found at Ordnance Badges of New Zealand 1916-1996.

 

Great Britain

Beginning in 1896, the United Kingdom maintained two distinct Ordnance entities:

• The Army Ordnance Department, which consisted of officers.
• The Army Ordnance Corps, which comprised other ranks.

In July 1896, following a recommendation from the War Office, Queen Victoria granted approval for the incorporation of the arms of the Board of Ordnance into the badge of both the Army Ordnance Department and the Army Ordnance Corps (AOC). This incorporation involved using the shield from the Board of Ordnance arms, excluding the crest and the supporters, as a central element in the badge design.

These two cap badges were crafted in a similar design, differing primarily in the wording displayed on the scroll beneath the shield. These badges served as the predecessors to all Imperial and subsequently Commonwealth Ordnance Corps badges. Elements of their design were later adopted by various Commonwealth Ordnance Corps throughout their histories.

The Army Ordnance Department and Corps were combined in 1918 to form the ‘Royal Army Ordnance Corps,’ remaining in existence until 1993 when it was disestablished to form the ‘Royal Logistic Corps‘.

Australia

The Australian Army Ordnance Stores Corps was established on July 1, 1902, concurrently with the civilian-administered Australian Army Ordnance Department, which operated under Civil Service management.

In a significant transition in 1942, the corps was brought entirely under military jurisdiction and rebranded as the Australian Army Ordnance Corps. This transformation marked a turning point in its history, and in 1948, it was honored with Royal status.

The badge design, featuring a King’s crown, received official approval in 1948. Initially, this design was exclusively worn as a collar badge. However, in 1956, a cap badge bearing a Queen’s Crown was introduced, which has continued to be in use to this day.

As King Charles ascends to the throne, it is likely that the crown on the badge will be updated to reflect his heraldry, possibly reverting to the Tudor Crown.

 

Canada

Established in 1903 under the name ‘Ordnance Stores Corps,’ this organisation underwent several transformations in its history. In 1907, it was rebranded as the ‘Canadian Ordnance Corps.’ In a significant development in 1919, it was bestowed with the prestigious Royal designation, becoming the ‘Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps.’

In 1968, with the creation of the ‘Logistic Branch,’ which merged the ‘Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps’ and the ‘Royal Canadian Army Service Corps,’ the Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps was formally disbanded on July 2, 1974.

India

The origins of the Indian Army Ordnance Corps can be traced back to the 15th century when the three Presidencies of the East India Company, namely Bengal, Madras, and Bombay, were formed. The formal recognition of the Indian Army Ordnance Corps took place in 1775 with the establishment of the ‘Board of Ordnance.’

However, in 1855, as part of a global restructuring effort, the Board was disbanded. This led to the creation of the Ordnance State Department and Corps. Subsequently, in 1885, these entities were reorganized into the Army Ordnance Department for officers and the Army Ordnance Corps for soldiers.

In 1922, a significant reorganisation took place, resulting in the amalgamation of the Army Ordnance Department and the Army Ordnance Corps, which were then collectively renamed the Indian Army Ordnance Corps. During this transition, a new corps badge was introduced, closely resembling the previous one but featuring a scroll inscribed with the words “Indian Army Ordnance Corps.”

This badge remained in use until 1954 when the current badge was officially adopted. Interestingly, the IAOC badge should have been discontinued after India became a republic in 1950. However, a delay in finalizing the new crest led to its continued usage until 1954.

Following India’s attainment of independence in 1950, the “Indian” prefix was removed from the corps’ name, and it is now simply referred to as the Army Ordnance Corps.

Additional Indian Ordnance badges from 1884 to 1922 included:

• Pagri (Turban) Badge: This badge featured an Ordnance shield surmounted by a fist rising from a coronet while grasping lightning rods. Below this imagery, there was a scroll with the inscription “SUA TELA TONANI.”
• Waist Belt Clasp: During the King’s Crown period, this clasp displayed the King’s Crown over an Ordnance shield in the center. The word “ORDNANCE” appeared around the top, and “INDIA” was inscribed around the bottom.
• Pagri (Turban) Badge – WW1 Period: From the World War I era, this badge featured a fist rising from a coronet, grasping lightning rods, and surmounted by two wings. It did not include a scroll.

Pakistan

Upon the partition of India and Pakistan in 1947, Pakistan introduced a modified Ordnance badge based on the Indian Army Ordnance Corps (IAOC) badge. In this adaptation, the crown in the IAOC badge was replaced by the Pakistan ensign, featuring a crescent and a star, and the word “Indian” was substituted with “Pakistan.”

On August 15, 1954, a newly designed badge was officially adopted. Modeled after the Royal Army Ordnance Corps (RAOC) Pattern badge, this badge featured the following elements:

• The Ordnance shield displaying three cannons and three cannonballs.
• The Pakistan ensign, which included a five-pointed star.
• An annulus, or circular band, inscribed with the words ‘Pakistan Army Ordnance Corps.’
• The Ordnance motto ‘Sua Tela Tonanti,’ translated into English as ‘To the Thunder his Weapons,’ was inscribed onto the riband encircling the badge.

Hyderabad

Hyderabad was a princely state during the British Raj. However, following India’s attainment of independence in 1947, Hyderabad initially maintained its independence. It wasn’t until 1948, when the Indian Army executed Operation Polo, an invasion operation, that Hyderabad was integrated into the Indian union.

 

Burma

South Africa

Drawing inspiration from the British model, South Africa established the South African Ordnance Department for officers and the South African Ordnance Corps for enlisted personnel in 1923. These two entities were later merged into a unified corps in 1933. In 1939, further reorganization occurred with the creation of the Technical Services Corps and the ‘Q Services Corps.’

Rhodesia and Nyasaland

During the existence of the Short-lived Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland (1953-1963), the Federation’s army maintained the Rhodesia and Nyasaland Army Services Corps, which played a crucial role in providing logistical support to the Federal Army. This corps comprised three distinct branches:

• Ordnance & Supply Branch: This branch was responsible for the provisioning of all Army arms, supplies, and equipment. It consisted of 150 soldiers.
• Workshop Branch: Within this branch, artificers and mechanics were tasked with the essential maintenance of vehicles, firearms, and other equipment deployed by the Federal Army. The Workshop Branch had a strength of 270 personnel.
• Supply & Transport Branch: Comprising one Askari Platoon, two Coloured Afro-Asian Platoons, and one Eurasian Platoon, the Supply & Transport Branch had the critical responsibility of delivering supplies allocated by the Ordnance & Supply Branch to troops in the field. In total, this branch consisted of 180 personnel.

These branches collectively formed the backbone of logistical support for the Federation’s military operations during this period.

 

Bibliography

J.L. Chapple Indian Army Collection catalogue, Part II – Arms and Services, AFI, IST-ISF. (2017). Retrieved from Indian Military History Society: http://durbaronline.co.uk/PDF/PDF6arms-svces.pdf

Copyright © Robert McKie 2017