Spanish American War Medic Hat pin! Great ID!

[celtex]

Is this a cap badge and from where? My first guess was German due to the cross but I can't find it in memorabilia sites. Thanks for the help!

You guys are awesome as usual!

Thanks to all that looked!

[jewelerguy]

I've read a lot of WW2 history throughout my life and collected some Third Reich memorabilia to a certain degree and have never seen a hat device like this one. The closest thing it matches is perhaps a WW1 Veterans organization hat device. Even at that, it is a long way off any designs I've ever seen pictured. Hopefully, someone will be able to ID it for you.

[yaxthri]

The cross is of the "Knights Templar" type.
Could this be Mason related?

[celtex]

The cross is of the "Knights Templar" type.
Could this be Mason related?

If it is it is a complete different style than I have seen. Closest I seen was a German WWII veterans group and it was brocade with the Iron Cross in it. Same shape.

[GpSnoopy]

Unusual design. Closest I found were some marine sharpshooting badges, but the wreath on those were more circular and surrounded 3/4 of the cross.

[Dano Sverige]

It's not German "Iron Cross" due to the indentations at the end of each arm. The closest i came up with (short search) was:

Badge of the Royal Green jackets - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Green_Jackets

...And the badge of the St Johns Ambulance Brigade...which is even further removed from the look of yours...but was looking at crosses with the indentations.

It could possibly be a war service nurse or Doctors badge or Merchant Marine or even a Ferry captains badge.

[GpSnoopy]

The wreath is very similar to the one used in the Grand Army of the Republic hat badge, and what strikes me as being odd, is that the maltese cross is not the same color, and seems to be of a different material than the wreath. Mind you, neither is the GAR lettering. Hmmm.

Here's the GAR badge as an example.

[celtex]

The wreath is very similar to the one used in the Grand Army of the Republic hat badge, and what strikes me as being odd, is that the maltese cross is not the same color, and seems to be of a different material than the wreath. Mind you, neither is the GAR lettering. Hmmm.

Here's the GAR badge as an example.

I too saw that. The fastners are different on the GAR devise but otherwise very similar wreath design if not the same.

[Bigcypresshunter]

I did a search and also found several similar wreaths but no match. Some are WWI screwbacks. I think the screwback fastener would place it somewhere around WWI to just before WWII and I think we can rule out Germany because I think they used an oak wreath (below).

[ffuries]

FYI bigcypresshunter the US Military is still using screwback fastners on service caps. To me it looks like the cross was added later JMHO.

Mike
USAF Retired

[Bigcypresshunter]

FYI bigcypresshunter the US Military is still using screwback fastners on service caps. To me it looks like the cross was added later JMHO.

Mike
USAF Retired

OK thanks. Thats why I put I think lol. I know screwbacks were used on collar discs in WWI -WWII. Is there such a thing as a screwback iron cross collar insignia?

Do you have any larger pics creskol?

[creskol]

It is a Spanish American War Medic insignia.

http://tinyurl.com/75nekvg

[GpSnoopy]

I agree with the maltese cross being a medic symbol. The 5th corps uses it as well. What I could not find was the use of the cross and the wreath together. I'm begining to think that this is 2 separate insignias "married" together, and not an official hat badge. I hope I'm wrong.

In this photo of the one on E-bay, which coincidentally appears identical in every way to the one originally posted, There are still 2 pins showing on the wreath, which would have been for push on fasteners?

[creskol]

Hmmmm .. That is curious .. The marriage of the two seems plausible. Good catch!

[Bigcypresshunter]

I agree with the maltese cross being a medic symbol. The 5th corps uses it as well. What I could not find was the use of the cross and the wreath together. I'm begining to think that this is 2 separate insignias "married" together, and not an official hat badge. I hope I'm wrong.

In this photo of the one on E-bay, which coincidentally appears identical in every way to the one originally posted, There are still 2 pins showing on the wreath, which would have been for push on fasteners?

Celtex also appears to have the 2 pins so it may be original..

[Bigcypresshunter]

I see now Celtex you must have placed the ad and updated the ID. The pics are the same.

Good ID Creskol as usual!!

[Bigcypresshunter]

FYI bigcypresshunter the US Military is still using screwback fastners on service caps. To me it looks like the cross was added later JMHO.

Mike
USAF Retired

Mike, were clutch back type fasteners used on service caps?

[HUNTER12]

I think it's a GAR wreath with a core badge in the center. I think it may be the 5th core, I'm getting a little foggy on core badges. see which core had the Maltese cross as a badge. Don't forget the GAR was still going strong in ths 1920's to the late 30's

[Bigcypresshunter]

I think it's a GAR wreath with a core badge in the center. I think it may be the 5th core, I'm getting a little foggy on core badges. see which core had the Maltese cross as a badge. Don't forget the GAR was still going strong in ths 1920's to the late 30's

It looks like the modern clutch back type of pins on the wreath but Im not certain..

[Bigcypresshunter]

Is the corps badge glued or soldered to the wreath?