Armoured Train Emblems

A fitting post for Armistice Day, the idea for this post came when reading an article about armoured UK trains in WWII. The article said that the trains were given a royal commision like ships, and as such had the abbreviation of HMT (literally His Majesty's Train) before their name. This got me thinking, what if they had a special insignia like a ships badge?  

There were two types of trains I thought of making badges for armoured trains and railway guns. Although railroads had been used to move, supply and support armies ever since their invention, It was not until the American Civil War when a group of Union Soldiers took control of a steam train, and used it to cause considerable damage up and down the rail line, that armoured trains came into existence. These trains became very specialised vehicles with specially built armoured wagons with small artillery pieces and machine gun emplacements. Armoured trains were used in the US Civil War, the British also used them in the Boar Wars, and both sides used them in WW1 and 2. Now they are perhaps more of a way of transporting VIPs in dangerous areas rather than a fighting machine. Railway guns also were first used in the US Civil War, by WW1 they had become quite specialised often with large naval guns. The bomber aircraft really made the obsolete by WW2 but the Germans still used them, in fact the largest gun ever made the German  Schwerer Gustav was a railway gun. Modern missiles have made this type of artillery redundant. 

Anyway to the heraldry:

I could only find one reference to a British armoured train in WW1, It was operated by the Royal Navy and used in support of the British Expeditionary Force in the first part of the Battle of Ypres in 1914. There was next to no information so the badge I designed was mostly left to the imagination:

This is the standard design for a train badge, a shield in the middle of a wheel, a railway themed nameplate topped by a railway crown. A similar idea to a ship's badge. The unit name is on the top part of the nameplate and a motto on the bottom. 

In this example the motto is that of the Navy, who operated it. The name is that of the Navy's greatest hero and is common one in the Royal Navy among ships, forts, shore establishments etc

The chief of the arms features aspects of the actual coat of arms of Nelson. Where the anchor and naval crown reflect it being operated by naval personnel.

There are quite a lot of references to railway guns, but not very many to specific guns. The specific guns that are referenced saw service in both world wars. In WW2 they were part of the home defences of the British Isles, were they were quite useful, being able to be kept safe from air attack by staying in railroad tunnels, and bombard ships and German positions across the English Channel! The guns were given the abbreviation HM Gun or HMG, and there names are typical more of wartime nicknames rather than official names but, the names were apparently commissioned. The first one is the Boche Buster(the actual name):

It features two crossed cannon, with an arrow splitting a German cross. The motto is that of the Royal Artillery, means "where right and glory lead."

 The shield features a Gladiator's helmet, pierced by an arrow. The motto is the classic gladiator salute from Roman legend. 

a laurel wreath with two crossed cannon, and the motto form the Roman proverb, "If you desire peace, prepare for war." 

Two crossed cannon flanked by the masks from ancient greek theater (reference to the name), topped with an anchor and a railway locomotive. The motto comes from old coins issued in the aftermath of the Spannish Armada and reads God (Jehovah) blew and they were scattered. 

There were 13 armoured trains that formed part of the British defences against the threat of German invasion these were given the letters between A and M. These varried in size and included the smallest ever armoured train which was on the Romney Hythe & Dymchurch Railway where the gauge between the rails is only 15 inches! Amazingly this tiny train is credited for shooting down attacking aircraft! At first these trains were operated by the Royal Engineers with soldiers of the Royal Armoured Corps. As the war progressed and these troops were needed elsewhere, this changed to a Polish crew (The Polish army had effectively used armoured trains during the German invasion of Poland) and weapons manned by the local Home Guard. I couldn't find reference to the names of these trains only their numbers so I had to use my imagination again, and make up names:

A figure of Britannia seated bearing her trident and shield, which is the crosses of Saints George, Andrew and Patrick in combination (a UK flag shield basically).the motto is a pun from the lyrics of the patriotic song Rule Britannia, which in the chorus include the lyrics "Britannia rules the waves,"

A burning bush with spears protruding from it, the motto translating to "to dare is to do."

 A stag rampant with a tudor crown in the chief, the Latin motto meaning "Fortune favours the bold."

A figure of an ancient greek warrior, with the motto Deeds, not Words.

An aniceant greek helmet on a crimson battle field. the Latin motto coming from the departen word Spartan mothers said to their sons before going to battle; "come back with you shield, or on it." The large shield was clumberson and thrown away in a retreat, and Spartan dead were borne home, useing the shield as a makeshift stretcher. Basically it means conquer of die. 

The shield depicts the symbols of the four suits in a classic deck of playing cards, a reference to the name, a trump card is one that has increased value. The motto is also a reference to winning at cards. 

A shield of two crossed swords canting the name. The swords are topped and tailed with two bows and flanked by railway lamps. The motto is also a pun.

The first of the trains to be a referance to one of the countries of the United Kingdom. It features a red welsh dragon, on the tudor colours of green and white. The motto in Welsh comes from the Royal Badge of Wales (as used by the Wales Office not the Welsh Assembly), and I belive it means "the red dragon inspires action."

A knight bearing the Cross of St George, emblem of the crusaders on his shield. The latin motto translates to inspired by the deeds of St George. 

A sky blue shield depicting Saint Andrew holding his cross, the border inspired by the Scottish coat of arms. The motto is that of the order of the thistle and means "No one attacks me with impunity" or in Scots "Wha daur meddle wi me." 

Named after the hound and guardian of Ulster in Irish mythology, it features the red hand on a gold and white field (the provincial colours). The motto is the Irish war cry meaning "Clear the Way" used as a motto by numerous Irish regiments. 

A tudor rose on the tudor colours of green and white, the motto is that of the order of the garter and means "shame on he who thinks evil of it"

An armoured train was also used by the British in the battle of Malaya. I also made a name and badge for this:

Although ment for trains, this type of badge could also be used for unit insignia. Such as the Royal Engineers WW1, Railway Operating Division, which operated standard and narrow gauge military railways on the western front.

Based on the Royal Engineers flag, with the two blue stripes made to look like rails.

The British Army does poses railway capabilities, however it sadly no longer has a specific railway unit, the last one 257 (Railway) Troop of the Royal Logistics Corps (Army Reserve) being disbanded this year. However here is a badge for them anyway:

It features a blue and gold field (Logistics Corps colours) with the crossed swords of the army, and four locomotive wheels. 

I hope you enjoyed this post as much as I did, I have three spare badges that I designed that don't have any historic attachment, but this post is long enough I think, so i might share them another time.