The REME Cap Badge: History, Symbolism and Meaning
Who Are REME?
The Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers — REME — is the British Army's specialist engineering corps, responsible for the maintenance, repair, and recovery of the Army's equipment. From tanks and armoured vehicles to helicopters, artillery systems, and electronic equipment, REME craftsmen and technicians keep the Army's equipment operational in the field, often working under fire and in the most demanding conditions.
REME was formed on 1 October 1942, created from elements of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps and the Royal Engineers to meet the growing complexity of modern military equipment during the Second World War. Since its formation, the Corps has served in every major British military operation, earning a reputation for technical excellence and operational resilience that is reflected in its motto: Arte et Marte — By Skill and by Fighting.
Origins of the REME Cap Badge
The REME cap badge has an interesting history that reflects the Corps' relatively recent formation and the evolution of its identity during the Second World War and beyond.
First Pattern: Pegasus (1942)
When REME was formed in 1942, its first cap badge featured Pegasus — the winged horse of Greek mythology — as its central emblem. Pegasus was chosen to represent the combination of technical skill (the craftsman's art) and military service (the horse of war), and the badge was worn by REME personnel during the latter years of the Second World War.
The First Pattern Pegasus badge is now a significant collector's piece, representing the earliest period of REME's existence and the Corps' wartime identity.
Second Pattern: The Chained Horse (1947)
In 1947, REME adopted a new cap badge designed by Stephen Gooden, which has remained in use to the present day. The Second Pattern badge replaced Pegasus with a chained horse standing on a globe, set against a vertical lightning flash — a design that directly reflects the Corps' electrical and mechanical engineering role and its global reach.
Understanding the REME Cap Badge
The current REME cap badge is a composition of carefully chosen elements that together express the Corps' technical expertise, military character, and institutional values.
The Chained Horse
The rearing horse at the centre of the badge is adapted from the coat of arms of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. It wears a coronet of fleur-de-lys around its neck and is tethered to the globe by a chain — symbolising power under control. This is a fitting emblem for a corps whose mission is to harness and direct the most powerful military equipment, keeping it operational under any conditions.
The Globe
The horse stands on a globe, representing the worldwide reach of REME operations and the Corps' service wherever the British Army has deployed.
The Lightning Flash
Positioned vertically behind the horse, the lightning flash symbolises the Corps' electrical and technical engineering expertise — a direct reference to REME's specialist role in maintaining and repairing the Army's electrical and mechanical systems.
The Crown
Surmounting the badge is the Crown, signifying the Corps' loyalty to the reigning British monarch. Crown variations — King's Crown and Queen's Crown — reflect the reigns of successive monarchs and are of considerable interest to collectors.
The Scroll
At the top of the badge sits an ornate scroll displaying the letters R.E.M.E., clearly identifying the wearer as a member of the Corps.
Arte et Marte
The motto Arte et Marte — "By Skill and by Fighting" — captures the dual identity of REME personnel: they are craftsmen and soldiers simultaneously. The motto acknowledges that REME's technical expertise is deployed in a military context, often under fire, and that the Corps' contribution to operational effectiveness requires both professional skill and personal courage.
Crown Variations: A Collector's Guide
Like all British Army cap badges, the REME badge exists in both King's Crown and Queen's Crown variants, reflecting the reigns of successive monarchs.
- King's Crown (Tudor Crown) — worn during the reigns of King George VI (1947–1952) and King Charles III (2022–present)
- Queen's Crown (St Edward's Crown) — worn during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II (1952–2022)
The transition from Queen's Crown to King's Crown following the accession of King Charles III in September 2022 has added a further dimension of collector interest, with both variants now available and the King's Crown examples representing the current issue badge of the Corps.
Why Collectors Value the REME Cap Badge
The REME cap badge is valued by collectors for its distinctive design, its association with a corps that has served in every major British military operation since 1942, and the historical interest of its two distinct pattern variants. The First Pattern Pegasus badge is particularly sought after as a wartime piece, while the Second Pattern chained horse badge is collected in both King's Crown and Queen's Crown variants.
Conclusion
The REME cap badge is a symbol of technical excellence, resilience, and the vital role played by the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in keeping the British Army operational. Designed by Stephen Gooden and adopted in 1947, its chained horse, globe, and lightning flash together express the Corps' identity with precision and purpose — power under control, deployed wherever the Army serves, in the spirit of Arte et Marte.
Browse our full range of REME pieces: King's Crown Cap Badge, Queen's Crown Cap Badge, King's Crown Display Frame, and Queen's Crown Display Frame.
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