Description
Physical description
Anodized aluminium headdress badge to soldiers of the Royal Army Dental Corps, being a St. Edward's (Queen's) crown linking the tips of a laurel wreath in the voided centre of which a dragon's head holding in its mouth a sword, hilt to the North East, blade extending over the wreath, over the lower portion of the wreath a three-part downward scroll on which embossed "EX / DENTIBUS / ENSIS" (From the teeth a sword). Dragon and sword blade silver, remainder gold. Captioned: "All Headdress". Slider to reverse obscured by sealing wax.
Physical description
Box 101: Mounting card captioned: "Royal Army Dental Corps Soldiers" on which 9 items, two of which constitute a pair (11472-11479). Also captioned bottom left: "64 Med 425" and bottom right "Box No 121". Reverse with a green sealing wax deposit on which an oval seal bearing MINISTRY OF DEFENCE / PATTERN ROOM, with across the centre, ARMY / OFFICERS. Top left an oval stamp on which "Q (Maint) 2 / MINISTRY OF DEFENCE" with across the centre "15 JUN 1970".
History note
BADGE. The dragon image derives from the Chinese emblem for dentistry, with the sword an appropriate addition for a military badge, plus providing a link to the motto. The motto derives from mythology, where both Cadmus and Jason had sown the teeth of dragons from which had sprung an army of armed men.
History note
HISTORY. During the First World War Dental officers had been on the establishment of all medical units of the RAMC. In 1921 the Army Dental Corps was formed as a Corps in its own right. Following service in the Second World War, where they performed particularly valuable service in dealing with fractures of the jaw and related issues, in 1946 the Corps was granted the 'Royal' prefix.
(badge, obverse) embossed
(badge, obverse) EX DENTIBUS ENSIS