The Adam Park Project

Item Information:

Catalogue Number: 13/18/002 Source: TAPP Archaeology Surveys Location: No13 & 14 Adam Park Report No: Report No.21 Artifact Type: Badges Production Date: 2013-11-20 00:00:00 Dimensions of Item: 35mm x 45mm Copyright with The Adam Park Project

Other Description:

The most notable single find was discovered on the last but one hit on the last day of the last TAPP2 survey and was a fitting reward for all the hardwork put in by the team. The Royal Corps of Signals badge what not at first recognisable as the soil coated the scroll. The figure of ‘Mercury’ is missing and despite a persistent survey in the immediate area it was not recovered.It maybe that the image of Mercury was kept by the owner where as the badge that would give awa the unit's identity was thrown away.

Historic Context:

The Royal Corps of Signals website at http://royalsignalsmuseum.co.uk/WebSite/index.php/royal-signals-history/2011-10-26-23-11-03/cap-badge-history has this to say on the origins of the badge: The Royal Signals cap badge is heraldically described as; "The figure of Mercury holding a Caduceus in the left hand, the right hand aloft poised with the left foot on a globe all silver above the globe a scroll inscribed 'Certa Cito' and below on each side six laurel leaves all gold, the whole ensigned with the Crown in. But to every member of the Corps it is affectionately known as "JIMMY". . It was not until the 'Corps of Signals' was formed that the question of a badge came into being.Following the decision of King George V to grant the 'Royal' title the first cap badge of Mercury was approved on 24 March 1921. This was of the initial pattern with the oval band surrounding it. The Corps changed its style of badge in 1946 to that currently used. "Certa Cito", meaning "Swift and Sure", was also included at this stage.