Visitors to the RAF Club since mid-2021 may have noticed that the ground floor stairwell area by the RAF Commemorative Window has been transformed with the addition of an array of new unit badges. The Royal Air Force Regiment and Associated Forces badges area was created in 2021 to address a long-term paucity of the Corps’ representation in the RAF Club’s 1st floor Badges Corridor.

 

So successful was the initial push that the resultant number achieved could not be accommodated on the 1st-floor and a new area had to be found. After much debate with the Arts Committee, ably assisted by the Club’s Head of Administration, Matthew Kent, the bespoke display area was provided generously by the Club.

 

The path to this was quite drawn out. Some 15 years ago, Wg Cdr Martin Hooker - the then Regimental Secretary to the RAF Regiment and, previously, a serving Regiment officer for some 38 years - observed that the Regiment was not represented at all well in the Club’s Badges Corridor and resolved to address the issue. However, his initial attempt was thwarted by the high cost of the College of Arms’ production and the idea was shelved for the time being.

 

Moving forward to 2020, now retired but still frustrated at the Regiment’s poor representation in the Badges Corridor, he decided to revisit the project and, having targeted No 58 Squadron RAF Regiment’s badge as the start point, he raised the required £700 through individual £50 pledges in just 12 hours. Spurred on with the success of 58 Squadron’s badge, he used the same process with No 63 Squadron’s badge - with equally rapid results - and the business model was laid down. Thereafter, it was not unusual to commission two badges in a single week, although some units did take a little longer to fund than others. However, the principle of funding by modest individual pledges was maintained ‘as a team effort’ and, to date, over 200 Regiment officers and Corps supporters have contributed no less than £22,500 towards the cost.

 

During the period 2020-2024, some 28 RAF Regiment unit and formation badges were commissioned for display in the RAF Club. The new, framed badges joined four that were already present in the Club, namely those for the RAF Regiment, RAF Regiment (Malaya), No609 Squadron RAuxAF Regiment and No1 Armoured Car Company.

 

With the first Tranche of RAF Regiment badges completed, the second Tranche is now well in train, with the HQs No33 and No 5 Wing RAF Regt badges close to installation. There is sufficient capacity in the area for another 8-10 badges to be displayed and the project is truly “work-in-progress”.

 

The RAF Regiment would like to record its sincere thanks and appreciation to the RAF Club for its support in the venture and, no less, for the outstanding and prestigious location allocated. Special thanks are also due to Matthew Kent, for his personal commitment and on-going support to the project.

 

Per Ardua

 

Below are the photos from RAF Regiment Squadron Badge Presentation which took place at the Club on 14th June 2024.