Royal Artillery Brass Shoulder Title

Material: Brass
Size: 27mm w × 12mm h
Description: The front face consists of the bold, block letters "R" and "A" conjoined together by shared horizontal serifs at the base and top edges. The letters feature a flat-faced, untextured surface typical of rugged field issue hardware. Structurally, the complete assembly remains fully intact, featuring an underlying octagonal brass backing plate layered directly behind the letters. The piece relies on dual, unmarked copper wire attachment loops brazed onto the reverse, which pass through the backing plate and are locked securely into place by a traditional straight split-pin slider.
Circa: 1908-1950
Notes:
The letters "RA" stand for the Royal Regiment of Artillery, the specialized branch of the British Army responsible for operating the nation's field guns, howitzers, and air-defense batteries. Unlike infantry titles that were frequently modified to denote regional battalions, the Royal Artillery maintained a highly unified identification system across their global batteries. This specific specimen preserves its original octagonal backing plate and locking pin, which were vital structural components used to clamp the heavy brass letters firmly against the coarse wool fabric of a soldier's khaki service dress shoulder straps. The presence of this backer plate prevented the metal edges from grinding through the garment fibers while keeping the title perfectly horizontal during strenuous field maneuvers.