British Army Medical & Dental Cap Badges, World War 2 & Pre-1950 versions. Combination Image. Photograph

World War Two & Post WW2 British Army Dental and Medical Corps Cap Badges

Left: Army Dental Corps (ADC)

Army Dental Corps (ADC) cap badge, featuring a King’s Crown above an interlaced "ADC" monogram surrounded by a laurel wreath. This design was used by military dental personnel prior to the corps receiving its "Royal" designation in 1946.

· Design Features: Intertwined "ADC" letters set inside an open laurel wreath and topped with a Tudor (King's) crown.

Historical Context: Worn during the First and Second World Wars before the unit became the Royal Army Dental Corps (RADC).

Middle: Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) cap or collar badge featuring the Rod of Asclepius (a serpent entwined around a staff) inside a laurel wreath, surmounted by a crown and displayed over a maroon felt backing with the scroll inscribed "Royal Army Medical Corps".

· Design Elements: Features the entwined serpent and staff symbolizing healing, framed by laurel leaves and topped by a military crown

Right: Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) bi-metal cap badge featuring the Latin motto "In Arduis Fidelis" was officially approved and sealed in September 1950.

The Key Changes Made in 1950:

The Motto Replacement: Prior to this change, the lower scroll explicitly spelled out "ROYAL ARMY MEDICAL CORPS". In 1950, this text was entirely removed from the scroll and replaced with the official Corps motto, "IN ARDUIS FIDELIS" (meaning "Faithful in Adversity"), which the regiment had originally been granted back in 1898.

The Bi-Metal Composition: While the prior wartime badges were typically made of all-brass or all-gilding metal, this updated 1950 pattern introduced a distinct bi-metal composition. For Other Ranks (soldiers beneath the rank of Warrant Officer 1), the main body (the laurel wreath and central Rod of Asclepius) remained in gold/gilding metal, while the new lower motto scroll was struck in contrasting white metal.

Because this change took place in 1950, the very first versions of this bi-metal motto badge still featured the King's Crown (Tudor Crown). Shortly after the accession of Queen Elizabeth II, the design was updated again in 1953 to feature the Queen's Crown (St. Edward's Crown).