QARANC Cap Badge

The Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps (QARANC), like all British Army cap badges, is made from staybrite metal material so it stays lovely and shiny. Good news for fans of military spit and polish!:




These aluminium anodised cap badges were introduced for other ranks in the 1950s. Officers ones are made from silver gilt.

As the photograph of the QA cap badge to the left shows the QA emblem is gold leafed in colour and the bottom scroll is silver coloured with the initials 'QARANC 'type faced in a slightly darker silver colour. The cross of the Order of Dannebrog is surmounted by the St Edward's Crown.











This extract, from Head-Dress Badges of the British Army by Arthur L. Kipling and Hugh L. King, cites that the Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps was formed on the 1st February 1949 (Army Order 5/1949). Other ranks included 1st July 1950 (A.C.I. 455/1950)

(1) The Dannebrog, thereon in the centre a circle enclosing the letter A, the cypher of Queen Alexandra; above, and resting on the top arm of the cross, an Imperial crown; on either side of the cross a wreath of laurel. On the lower portion of the left branch a scroll inscribed Sub Cruce and on the lower portion of the right branch a scroll inscribed Candida. Below the cross, and on the bottom of the branches, a scroll inscribed Q.A.R.A.N.C. The bottom-scroll in white-metal, remainder in gilding-metal (Fig. 2186). Worn on a backing of scarlet-cloth. Officers': in silver-and-gilt.

(2)As above but with St. Edward's crown (Fig. 2187). In same metals, also anodised. Officers': in gilt-and-Silver.

(3) Officer's beret-badge: embroidered in gold and silver, with a red cap to the crown, on grey-cloth.







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This beautiful QARANC Poppy Pin Badge is available from the Royal British Legion Poppy Shop.




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These pictures of an officer's QARANC cap badges demonstrate the difference between the present and previous Monarch's crowns. The Imperial (King's) crowns are on the top whilst the St Edward's (Queen's) crown are underneath. So QAs would have changed cap badges after the Queen's succession, but it is possible that this was not undertaken for several years.





These duo are the officers collar badges which are much smaller than the cap badge pictured above. Note the longer loops on the back of the silver gilt officers cap badge above.







Cloth Officer's Cap Badge.


One with a maroon background can be seen at museumofmilitarymedicine.org.uk






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Buy a Personalised Cap Badge Painting like the one above.


QARANC cap badges are worn on the grey QA beret and the number 1 and no. 2 dress peak caps.


The approximate size of the QARANC cap badge is 25mm (1 inches) wide by 42mm (1.625 inches) high.

The Motto Of The QARANC is written around the cap badge. The official motto of The Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing is the Latin phrase Sub cruce candida.

It is possible to buy a Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps (QARANC) cap badge from online auction website Ebay where some private sellers and shops have many such QA items for sale.

QAIMNS Cap Badge

The photo on the left is the QAIMNS Cap Badge. The Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service were formed in 1902 and became the QARANC in 1949.

Though the QAIMNS were formed in 1902 it was not until 1905 that their cap badge was approved by His Majesty King Edward VII.

The QA cap badge was designed by the first President of the QAIMNS, HM Queen Alexandra. She chose the cross of the Order of Dannebrog from Denmark where she was born. This Maltese cross forms the centre piece of the badge.

Queen Alexandra chose the order's motto for the QAIMNS: Sub Cruce Candida. which translates to Under the White Cross.

It was approved at the thirtieth meeting of the Nursing Board in 1903 cited in the book Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps (Famous Regts. S) by Juliet Piggott).

Like several other cap badges in the British Army it was added to the new QAIMNS badge in 1905. This was carried over to the QARANC in 1949.

Army Medical Services School of Nursing Badge

Those QA nurses who trained and qualified in an AMS school of nursing were awarded an Army Medical Services School of Nursing Badge. Blue was awarded to registered nurses and green to enrolled nurses. Up to 1979 these were worn by female QAs on the neck button of their ward dresses. They were large nurse badges and were nicknamed the dustbin lid. Thereafter RAMC and QARANC wore the AMS School of Nursing Badges on their breast pocket and the badges were much smaller. The book Sub Cruce Candida: A Celebration of One Hundred Years of Army Nursing has photos of the Army Medical Services School of Nursing Badges.

The Blue AMS Schools of Nursing badges were only awarded to those student and pupil nurses who passed their Army Class 1 exams (or Hospital finals) and not for passing the State finals. This changed with the January 1988 intake of Student Nurses who were the first of the new curriculum. They did not take hospital finals but instead sat the state finals and were awarded the Blue Army Medical Services School of Nursing badge when they passed the State finals in January 1991. By this time no more pupil nurses (Enrolled Nurses) were trained by the AMS so the green badges were no longer issued.

Army Trained Nurse Badge

When we did our nurse training we took both army and civilian nursing examinations. When you passed your ATN, which was the Army Trained Nurse, you were allowed to apply for civilian finals. Upon passing ATN you were given the ATN badge, in the photo, which you had to wear at the collar of your dress - it weighed a ton. I have photographed it next to a state badge to give you some idea of the size. Stephanie Lowe

The photo below is of the General Nursing Council For England and Wales badge




Below is a photograph of the Army Trained Nurse badge. As well as the nickname Dustbin Lid because of its weight and size, it was also nicknamed the C344 after Army form exam paper certificate AF C344. The badge was issued between 1956 to 1973.




If you sell or know of somewhere that sells the old style bronze very heavy Army Trained Nurse badges then please contact Qaranc.co.uk.

A number of army nursing badges are for sale at Peters Nursing Collectables along with other rare items such as an Army School of Psychiatric Nursing badge and a Princess Christian's Army Nursing Service Reserve silver badge.

Some Army Trained Nurse badges are often available to buy at auction sites like Ebay or at specialist sellers such as the Sally Bosleys Badge Shop at www.sallysbadges.com



If you sell a QARANC or other military cap badges and have a shop or online store and would like it listed here for free then please contact me with information, your website and a photo.



See also the Army School of Psychiatric Nursing Silver Badge page.


Return To The QARANC Merchandise Index Page.


See also TRF Tactical Recognition Flash Badge.








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