When you join the British army you swear allegiance to "the Queen, her heirs and successors" (not to the government or country) so in a way I suppose it could be called a royal army :-)
My father was a medic in the U S Army in WW2 assigned to a Signal Corp unit. Those units had atypical combat wounds from stringing communication wires along fences, trees, poles, atop roofs and buried shallowly across roads. Lots of fall injuries, crushed fingers from spools of wires and gunshot wounds from snipers. Factor in battle wounds as well as artillery wounds the signalers were necessary but often unsung messengers of the battlefield. Dad had no fancy head covering: a steel GI helmet with red crosses and a garrison cap. He was 19 when he waded ashore on Omaha Beach. 20 years old at the Battle of the Bulge, and 21 when he got home Christmastime in 1945.
Spike Milligan, in his WWII memoirs, recounts the trials and tribulations of that sort of duty. He was a gunner in the Royal Artillery, but his duty was as a signaller. They would have to lay, and repair lines running between the guns, HQ, and observation post, at all hours, and in all conditions, when the sensible thing was to be hunkered down with the rest of the regiment.
I grew up in a small mining town in south-central Arizona. My interests until leaving for college consisted of collecting: 1. Old bottles from dumps in nearby abandoned mining camps 2. Insulators (mostly green glass) from beneath telephone lines. Sometimes one knew the line was abandoned and, so yes, from the poles themselves. 3. Coins 4. Stamps as many people who came and went through the mines and smelters came and went to locations around the world. 5. Date nails from telephone poles and railroad lines. 6. Arizona license plates Never really a serious 'collector' of any of the above. If I couldn't find it, I'd likely never buy it. But, it was the very discovery of an item that made it seem like treasure. Only as I became more aware of what history is did I understand that those items in my possession were history in my hands.
Just because I am that guy I am compelled to point out that the Canadian Army has mimicked the British Army. Many of the Canadian Army Regiments have a British parent Regiment that predates it a hundred years or more. One example would be the Blackwatch. There are many more. Curiously the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals predates the Royal Corps of Signals by close to 17 years making it the parent regiment.
Australia has RASigs with a similar badge (a boomerang below the scroll) Outside of RASigs, it's referred to as an "Interflora Badge" resembling the logo of a popular florist... The rest of the Army translate their 'Swift and Sure' into "Short and Simple", derogatory but the essence of a radio transmission... Good vid, as always!
An Uncle of mine when enlisting in the army (WWII) was asked what did he want to do, He said he didnt know, So he was asked do you have any hobbies, he replied well i keep pigeons, to which the reply came well its signals for you then🤣
My brother served in a US Army signal unit Germany in the late 1960s -- I don't remember which one. The unit badge interested me for two reasons. First, brown was a major color on the badge even though brown is not used in heraldry. Second, the unit motto was "Vox Ferrorum", which should have been "Vox Ferri" -- "Voice of Iron" in Latin. "Ferrorum" is the plural, so it's "Voice of Irons", which could also be translated as "Voice of Handcuffs".
I was RASIGS 90-95 Royal Australian Corps of Signals "Certa Cito"...We call our badge "Jimmy" also and it is always a subject of great debate in regards to the origin of that name
I was in the Royal Signals in the late 50's , posted to 3 GHQ Signal Regiment Episkopi Garrison Cyprus loved my time in the Regiment for the 2 years national service .Duncan, Queensland Aussie land .
Current RASIGS here... I don’t think I ever really got a satisfactory explanation on why Jimmy called Jimmy, but I do remember one night when I was at the School of Signals (where there was a 6’ tall bronze statue of Jimmy) blu-tacking an old Nokia into his hand - so it looked like he was trying to get phone reception! It stayed there a week before anyone noticed, and the RSM (who was a grunt) wasn’t even mad!
“The past is beautiful because one never realises an emotion at the time. It expands later, & thus we don’t have complete emotions about the present, only about the past." -VIRGINIA WOOLF
I have a collection of military hats. I wore every one of them during my time in service. The uniforms don’t fit very well any more, but I can still wear the hat.
Being Ex R Sigs we use to politely call the No 1 Dress Hats as Twat Hats, only ever wore them with either No 2 dress or Barrack dress or No 1 dress if you were unlucky enough to get married 😄 Prior to the badge changing in 1947, where it was a 1 piece item, it was then replaced with the split 2 piece item you see there (plus brass backing plate). Just a shame that covid 19 kicked in this year as we were all looking forward to our piss up and get together ☹
My father was Commander Corps Royal Signals, based in Bielefeld, for the 50th anniversary. There were some pretty good piss ups then. Visitors from all over the world came to visit and join in - US Signal Corps, Australians, Canadians, NZ, Pakistan, India, etc. PS. I went to secondary school in Gloucestershire and the school's cadet force was tied to the Gloucestershire Regiment, known as "The Glorious Glosters". We were very proud of the tie to the regiment. Our berets had a badge at the back, in addition to the normal one at the front, in honour of a back-to-back stand at the Battle of Alexandria in 1801. The "Glorious" came from their actions at the Imjin River in 1951.
We called ours that too when I was wearing a Royal Armoured Corps one. When I passed out from Bovington I was strictly a beret only type, my regiment had no caps, as we had never had a need for them!
Fascinating! My great uncle won the Distinguished Conduct Medal in 1918 as a motorcycle courier with the Royal Engineers (Signals); my father joined the Royal Signals in January 1940 and saw service in East Africa, North Africa, Sicily, Italy, France, Belgium, The Netherlands and Germany before being demobbed in 1946 and I was a infantry signaller in the TAVR during the Cold War. Strange how things run in families. Another cap shown was from the North Staffs Regiment, my grandfather served in that regiment and was present at the taking of the St Quentin Canal in 1918, one of the great turning points of the First World War.
Jimmy in Scotland and northern England is a reference or name used to address a man for which their name is unknown. Informed to me by my cousins in Glasgow over 40 years ago. Thank you for the history lesson.
My grandfather was Scottish and served in the British army in the first world war. He referred to all of my friends as Jimmy. He would’ve been born in the 1890’s. He moved to Canada after the war in the 20’s. So the nickname Jimmy has been around in Scotland for a long time.
That actually sounds like a more likely origin for the term in regards to the Signal Corps. I think it unlikely that Signalers would have cared, or even known, who the sculptor of Mercury was.
My Father was a signalman in the Royal Corps of signals on D Day. He and his mate (by coincidence was called Beresford) landed on Queen beach in their waterproofed Radio Jeep. Love your videos.Cheers.
I enjoyed this video, I was going to comment and found that it had disappeared. Anyway, now it's back I was going to say that in the Canadian army, those of us who were not signalers, referred to signal corps personnel as "Jimmies".
Interesting bit of history. I have always admired the cap badge of the Royal Canadian Engineers. It features a beaver and I've always thought that to be very appropriate. Anyone who knows anything about beavers knows they are very industrious and hard working building dams and beaver lodges.
Thanks for this History Guy! My great grandfather began his military career as a Signals Officer in Gallipoli, he was then called up to the RAF and became a flight instructor. He retired from the RCAF at the rank of Group Captain in the fifties and is in the Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame. I collect Winston Churchill memorabilia and vintage christmas bulbs!
Hear, Hear! Another retired US Army Signal Officer here. Without Signalers those guys with the guns are in deep doodoo and may well not make it back for the next beer. Nowadays it is mostly a data stream with VOIP.
@@richardturner7105 I came in and actually had to learn semaphore flags and Morse code (CW). I went out running a sat linked tactical WAN in Iraq. Quite a tech jump in one career. Worked closely with a few units from the UK, Australia and even Poland. Great guys and gals every one!
Thank you for covering the Royal Signal Corps, it's really interesting to learn more about them. My grandfather served in the corps during WW2 from the Sahara to Burma and had some good stories from his times in the desert. Once he reached Burma they started finding the Japanese POW camps and he never talked of those. Many from the corps left the service and moved on to work for the Royal Mail, developing some of the earliest sorting machines in the world using the skills they picked up during their time in the corps. My father and myself have both continued working with computers so you could say that those skills now run in the family. I wish I had been old enough to talk to my grandfather more about his time in the corps but sadly he died almost 20 years ago after a very happy life. Your videos are always fascinating but this one has had a more profound effect on me, thank you for your constant effort and clear love for all things historical.
Lance, don't ever apologize for not going into the military! Only a small percentage of a country's population actually join the military and of us that do, all we ask is empathy and understanding from the civilians for the sacrifices we make and the benefits we gain form being in uniform. And you Sir do that in spades! Keep up the good work.
My MOS (Military Occupational Skill) was a field wireman. I was subsaquently trained as a radio operator and repairman. Signal is one of the main backbones of the military. If I had my old boonie cap I'd send it to you. I wore it in Viet Nam. Thanks again very interesting
THG - your enthusiasm is as enjoyable as the actual content of your videos. And, as with Raymond Seitz's book 'Over Here', it's illuminating to get an educated and informed American's view of our history and often baffling ( even to us ) traditions and customs. Keep up the fine work.
When I was in the marine corps band it was really fun playing with them. There's a weird band I can't remember where their from but they ride bicycles and play music. They are a real unit
It was the weirdest rehearsal we did a international tattoo all military bands from all countries. We were over there warming up and out of the corner of my eye a band on bicycles in military uniforms. 🧐😵
Signals are often colloquially called Bleepers from the noise sending morse on a telegraph machine. Ceremonial or best dress is No. 1 dress, No. 2 being the khaki tunic and trousers worn with shirt and tie for all ranks and worn with best headress. The peaked cap is also know as the SD hat from Service Dress. Great episode as always sir. Please carry on!
Far more frequently called "Scaleys" - said to originare fromthe days of wet lead acid batteries that had to be carried on the back and frequently leaked, hence scaley back
I was a Canadian signaler as was my father. Canada founded its corp of signals in 1903 which makes it the oldest signal corp in the British commonwealth.
Kudos for this unique and fascinating avenue of historical perspective. It puts a more humanized spin on the narrative that I find entertaining and engaging. Who’d have ever thought that a cap/hat/etc could kick off so many different historical discussions (with such great detail!)? Thanks!
Camp Gordon, one of many cryptographic units used in the enigma foundation. The Signal Corps in the US. The brilliant recruiting of troops for this field bled into Nasa, The blue box, and even lockeed years later. These same soldiers were so advanced in cryptography that they got bored in retirement. They joined the clubs of the day, and even made home computers as a hobby. My grandfather, a retired Signal officer, Helped develop the controller systems in the SR71. He also worked with Steve Wozniack in one of these clubs. You can trace this video, and the keyboard you are using back to this Signal Center.
My father served with the Royal Corp of Signals from 1939 through 1946 attached to the 11th Armoured Division (The Black Bull). He served in France, Holland, Belgium, and Germany. Amongst many battles and action, he was one of tge first through the gate when Bergen-Belsen concentration camp was liberated by his division on April 15, 1945. I have his medals and cap badge along with a collection of his war-time memorabilia.
Those motorcyclists at about 8:56 are from WW2- as opposed to WW1 which was being discussed. I knew a man who was involved with secret electronic communications- he was in his mid- 70s at the time, and he told me he was sent to Poland as part of the British Army technical support and I assume now- and it makes sense considering his expertise, that he was in the Royal Signals. He told me he did plenty of vodka drinking with Polish women. I should have asked him more about this time- he certainly liked a drink or three. His home was next to the village pub and one day, I walked past and his stuff was being removed- he had died suddenly. RIP Bill Campbell.
As a former Sapper I enjoyed this...I’ll pass the link onto some ‘Scaleys’. I was also happy to see ‘Speckled Jim’...:) But I must take exception with you using the phrase ‘Royal Army’. It’s the ‘British’ Army or just the ‘Army’. This is because of a question of, er, divided loyalties dating back to the English Civil War. Even today, the loyalty of some regiments is revealed in their names or traditions, but the ‘Army’ was seen as a little bit suspect. Indeed, until quite recently the very existence of the British Army had to be confirmed ANNUALLY by an act of parliament. Hence Royal Navy, Royal Air Force but ‘British’ Army.
As I understand, the British Army was born out of Cromwell's New Model Army, adopting red coats because it was the cheapest cloth Parliament could find.
My late father was in the Royal Corps of Signals in WW2. He was a teletype technician, a dispatch rider and for some reason operated a bulldozer. He also admitted to listening to telephone calls made by Winston Churchill.
..I once was on a radio quiz when the question was "Name a famous bowler" - My first thought was the chapeau worn by Patrick Macnee on the Avengers Television program...but then I responded with "Earl Anthony"...
A History Guy Tour sometime next year might be something to consider. I’m found of such things and have taken classic great railroad trips, though speedy are life changing.
Thanks HG. A delightful surprise to find my old corps featured. I could never stop my crown spinning around on my beret. Our badge was exactly like the British but with the addition of a boomerang.
On behalf of Grandfather, WOII, Arkwright, Stanley (1939-1945) thank you. He served as a signaler serving with Africa with the King's own African Rifles and the headquarters of the 8th Army. His team were the contact for the LRDG whilst on operations. He finished his service in Burma. Under his orders were two Sikh brothers who operated in a very similar way to the Navaho wind talkers. One being deployed to the line while the other stayed at HQ. Talking in the open but in their village dialect and with their own slang, the team could pass rapid messages that were near impossible to understand.
My father joined the East Lancs Regiment in the mid 1930s but moved to the Royal Corps of Signals. He served in India, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, Singapore, The Falklands and Hollywood (Northern Ireland) - Then Hitler ruined it all. No sooner married when war broke out. However, while in Dover Castle he was allowed a 2-day pass. It wouldn't get him to Manchester (too far away) unless he got a travel warrant to Bury St Edmunds and crossed out the 'St Edmunds'. Train to Bury, got off at Manchester Piccadilly and, as long as he was back on Sunday, nobody pulled him up on it. Very many stories about his life in the corps, none at all about his time in WW II, though.
I find it amazing that there are many people that collect memorabilia from people that they never knew. Yet, their own families sometimes don't appreciate their sacrifice, or even if they do, haven't really spoken to them to hear their stories. Take some time to talk to your loved ones, if they're willing to share. On the other hand, be sensitive as some horrors of war they may never want to talk about. My Dad certainly has a lot of funny stories, but a few sad ones too. So he was mostly lucky. Like the time he was screwing around with a machine gun, using it to cut a small tree. He was at the top of a hill, and if it wasn't for some friends below, the officer in charge was about to order a bazooka shot up in his direction.
Thank you! It brought back memories, my father was in the The Royal Signal Corp in the 1950’s and 60’s in the Middle East and Europe. Unfortunately he is gone now and many stories were lost, but, it brought back the fond memories of a wonderful parent.
As an ex-scaley (members of the RSIGS are known as scaleybacks in the British Army) thank you for your lovely precis of my Corps (The Royal Corps) history. Certa Certo.
Royal Australian Signal Corps here. We're called chooks, slang for chicken, because using a Morse key looks like a chicken pecking at food. So glad you mentioned Jimmy.
I do love the simplicity of the Dixie Cup I wore in the USN. Actually most of the time we just wore ball caps. That is a pretty cool hat you have. I always check them out on your videos.
The History Guy You might be interested to know that the Royal Australian Corps of Signals (RASIGS) uses the same badge, but with a boomerang with ‘Australia’ underneath. Our officers wear the same headdress as soldiers, and some units (usually strategic units) wear a dark blue beret, whilst most wear the slouch hat with a colour patch (as you described in your great video on slouch hats!)
I was impressed by your proper use of the Ecclesiastical Latin pronunciation of the motto "Certa Cito", saying "CHAIR-ta CHEE-toe" instead of the probably more common, but incorrect, "SIR-ta SEE-toe".
Thank you for another fascinating story. My late father served in the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers from WW2 to the mid 60s. Attached to Allied Forces Southern Europe in Naples in the late 50s, he is instantly recognisable in group photographs as the only officer wearing a caubeen (beret) complete with hackle of grey cockerel feathers.
In Australia the Royal Australia Signals Corps Has a similar emblem and badge That by other units is derogatorily referred to as Interflora because the statue of mercury looks very similar to the florist network company Interflora emblem if you’re into sending flowers
I still proudly keep my forge cap, and am occasionally asked to wear it and my ever shrinking dress blues at special occasions.I retired in 2005. Yours is my favourite channel!
I am soooo glad you keep your political views to yourself. The entirety of this country could learn a thing or two. Thank you for not dividing your fans. I love you.
Glad this finally showed back up. It popped up in my news feed this morning, ans when I went to watch it, I was greeted it was flagged with "This video is private."
Thank you for a very interesting article ! Take care , stay safe and healthy wherever your research or adventure takes you ! Doing well here in Kansas .
Dear History Guy, thank you very much for a wee brief history of the Corps. Especially with this being my beloved Royal Corps of Signals its centenary year. 22 yr Vet.
My Father, born 1910, was a regular in the Scots Guards at the start of WWII. I have his cap badge. (Nemo me impune lacessit). He was a Warrant Officer 1st class and his "sky pilot" was the Rev. Robert Runcie, who later became the Archbishop of Canterbury. Dad said he was a right git.... Thank you THG.
I love watching your videos. But some, like todays, remind me why I love learning about history. It is the unknown facts and stories that make history fun. Keep up the great work.
at a commissioning of a U.S. Navy ship (in the 1990's) I witnessed a discreet ceremony where coins were placed under the mast of the ship, descriptions of which rare coins they used (equaling the ships hull number) and the implication that the coins were there to pay Chaeron (greek demi-god) to get the crew across the river Styx. Would love to see a discussion of this or any other homages to little practiced older religions that still exist in state sponsored events.
History Guy, I just cleaned out literally hundres of ball pens and pencils and just wondered about their history. That surely would be a history deserving to be remembered. You asked what other people collect and I collect log tables and slide rules and their history (and the history of pocket calculators) most certainly deserved to be remebered.
I have a suggestion for a future episode,: -how about the history of the publication of the Bible. While I know it sounds very religious I don't think it'd have to be. You could focus on how the political climates affected and changed how it was published and distributed (China's black market for Bibles, why different versions were created, the fact it's the most bought and sold book in the world, and how the printing press affected the publication just as a few examples) You could even focus on how it impacted the lives of those who publicated it how it effected their businesses and personal lives. Anyway thanks for the wonderful video and have a wonderful day.
You should have spoken to the Director of the Tank Museum when you did you Five favourite Tanks video for them. He’s done a couple of fantastic videos on military hats during the lockdown period. Also, in the Parachute Regiment a “Hat” is any one not in the Paras, short for “Crap Hat”!
I am also a military hat/cap/helmet collector. I have over 100 on display in my house. Most are U.S. but I do have a few from other countries. One of my latest foreign finds is a garrison cap that I purchased in The Czech Republic.
My son has just joined the Royal signals at the beginning of this year , it was a shame that COVID-19 put a curtail to his passing out parade just three weeks before ended . They ended up doing a passing out parade on Facebook and they didn’t wear their best uniform as well such a shame as parents we were so looking forward to it . Now is commencing his training with the Royal Corps of signals at Blandford then off to Chicksands . I’ll Show him your video when he’s next home .
You mentioned that you never served in the military and gave a couple of reasons. Maybe this is history that deserves to be remembered especially if it was during a difficult time in the US for young people to get behind all things military. I know when I joined the Navy people were asking WHY would I do that?
I very much respect military service. I gradated high school in 1982 when there was nothing much going on, and it was actually somehow difficult to even get a slot. Chatting with my guidance counselor, it did not seem worth trying to get in, given my eyesight (early dreams of being a pilot having been long dashed.)
@@TheHistoryGuyChannel I had the same thing I wanted to join the Royal Navy as an Artificer (sort of a technician grade, better prospects of promotion and possibly a funded degree). I made at the time the minimum requirements plus a bit, was told we have limited places and can pick and choose, go back to school and get better grades. That was not even factored in so I gained an engineering trade elsewhere, still think about it even after all these years but those were the choices and decisions I had and made then.
The History Guy: History Deserves to Be Remembered - in 82 I was fortunately able to fly P-3 aircraft as a Flight Engineer with VP-4 out of Barbers Point Hawaii and we deployed all over the China Sea, Indian Ocean, Africa and the Middle East. There was big buildup of the US Navy during the Regan Presidency. I was fortunate to be physically able to meet flight status because one little thing could prevent a person from being physically qualified to fly and most of the time you have no control over it. Every year you would get a flight physical and have to qualify all over again. We flew a lot tactical missions during the period of 81-85 and accumulating close to 4,500 flight hours. That type of flying beats a body up too. I too was a collector of military hats and would trade with anyone I could during my years with the Navy only to have my collection stolen by a moving company after my discharge. That broke my heart when I opened every container and box only to be able to collect the monitory value of each cover I traded, minus depreciation! Really? I am envious of your collection but it brings back some great memories of a time long forgotten! Thank you for this and I love The History Guy channel. Just about every episode makes my day.
This is a fantastic view into one of the most visible parts of a uniform: the cap. I know you were focusing on mainly the British cap, but you also mentioned the US Army cap, with its 'scrambled eggs" embroidery on the brim. I'm former USAF, and I like the variation of the USAF field grade (major and above) cap; instead of the gold "scrambled eggs", they have silver clouds and lightning bolts, quite appropriate to the environment familiar to the USAF, the sky.
As a collector of European military clothing I too have come across a hat or two that caught my eye.Like you I often wonder Who wore that hat or jacket? How did it come to be that it was put up for sale.I have been asked by many why European and not American?Well, I respect those that served my country and feel that it would be rude of me to wear the uniform of a corps or army I have never been a member of.Yes,I was never in a European Army either but..anyway I appreciate your hobby as well as others and I find that there are so many variations that it becomes a never ending obsession,much to the dismay of my wife.
I collect International Harvester lawn & garden equipment pre-1980's. The rise and fall of that american company would make for a good episode, or, farm caps in general. Thank you for your channel.
I'd like to see an episode on IH. My dad worked for them for 42 years (less 4 years off during WWII). During that time my mom worked for them, building carburetors for tanks. I worked there for a year between high school and college. This was at the West Pullman Works, in Chicago.
I loved hearing about the Signal Corps--my father served in the Corps during WWII in India and Burma and occasionally told me stories of his fascination as a young boy in the 1920s with the new "crystal set" radios. The fascination stayed with him for his entire life, he designed two-way radio communications systems for the Marconi company after the war and ended his career, (dying far too young at the age of 57), designing communication satellites.
Hey, Mr. History Guy! Can you do a video on the forgotten Arctic balloon expedition by Andreè? The balloon had 156,000 cubic feet of hydrogen and contained a boat and a sled. It crashed and wasn't seen until at least 30 years later.
@The History Guy - you should look up the Regimental history of 32 (Scottish) Sig Regt (V) and the formation of the Telegrapgh Company. Originally an RE unit formed in 1859 The unit you mentioned in the Boer war was this unit (a volunteer territorial unit) and the first time the TA was used in action. They also have the record for the longest fortnights annual training camp. For 12 men of the unit this 2 week training camp lasted 7 years due to being on annual camp at Barry Buddon in Dundee and halfway through the camp being sent to France and then being captured with the 52nd Lowland at the fall of France a few weeks after Dunkirk and then only being able to return home in 1946. The motto of the corps is pronounced with a soft C not hard
As an ex Signaller I loathed my twat hat - much happier in a beret. Only quibble would be that we always pronounced the motto with a soft C - more a serta seeto. Apart from the band, the odd wedding, the only other time we ever really saw No.1 dress was the White Helmets motorcycle display team (dispatch riders from the past!) - as I was also based at Blandford Camp in Dorset.
An uncle of mine served in the desert, Sicily, Italy and the Ardennes as a signaller in a Whites Scout Car. Fairly handy guy, with electronics and languages (Arabic, German, Italian, Spanish, Danish..) He tried to teach me morse when I was knee high. Listening to his 'fist' was like Beethoven played at 8x speed. That was in the '60s so I think he might have been a little rusty :-)
Those hats could not have found a better home than with you. No museum would treasure them as much as you do. Now you need to take a trip to Herbert Johnson, Hatters for another bowler.
If you are interested, I have a New Zealand Mounted Rifles slouch hat. They are produced from rabbit fur, and this one has General Staff embroidered head dress badge on the pugaree.
Thank you for the video on signallers. I was in the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals, and some of the older service members would refer a signaller as "Jimmy", derived from the nickname for Mercury. Additionally, since Mercury is also the god of tricksters and thieves, one learned never to leave stuff unattended where a Jimmy could find it.
History guy, I think you are awsome and informative, I served 6yrs in the Gloucester Regiment and 18yrs in the Royal Military Police. I would be happy to help with funding you on patron, I'm already subscribed but not fully. Pse enlighten everyone.
Royal Signals pers were commonly referred to as "Scalybacks". The term deriving from the leather protectors (looked like a fish scale) which were worn to protect the Siggies' backs from acid burns ,when lugging lead acid batteries up mountains where only donkeys and Siggies go!
One fun fact about the "Jimmy", it is currently the only two piece cap badge in the British Army. The crown is separate from the rest of the badge. With the whole thing held together by a pin inside the headdress. Signed: a former member of the Royal Corps of Signals.
Another suggestion: Bernardo de Galvez, presidial captain in Texas, governor of Spanish Lusiana, governor of Cuba and eventually Viceroy of New Spain. He was toasted on the the founding fathers every year for his contribution to American Independence.
