Description
Physical description
A gold and silver anodised aluminium Royal Army Dental Corps headdress badge, being a laurel wreath surmounted by a Queen's crown, a scroll across the lower portion of the wreath bearing IN DENTIBUS ENSIS (From the Teeth a Sword). Within the wreath the head of a dragon holding a sword in its mouth. The head of the dragon and the sword blade in silver, remainder in gold. A slider on the reverse which is stamped with the name of the manufacturer.
History note
The striking and imaginative second pattern badge's dragon design reflected classical associations with dentistry. The dragon is the Chinese emblem for dentistry but there are also allusions to Greek mythology. Both Jason and Cadmus were said to have slain a dragon and sown its teeth, from which sprang warriors, which, in the case of Cadmus, became the Spartans.
The headdress badge chosen on the formation of the Army Dental Corps in 1921 was a simple crowned wreath with monogram, pattern sealed in August 1921, worn in gilding metal by other ranks and gilt or bronze by officers
Following the grant of the Royal prefix in 1946 a new badge was designed featuring a dragon with a sword in its mouth, in bi-metal. The pattern was sealed in January 1948. The Queen's crown version was sealed in June 1954 but Hodges suggests it was not taken into wear until around 1957. The anodised version was issued around 1958.
Badges are worn on a green backing on the beret.
Until the early twentieth century there was no specialist dental care in the Army. A large number of soldiers had been rendered unfit for service during the Boer Wars and in the years following 1901 the authorities approved dentistry as a specific specialty for RAMC officers. Only four such specialists were graded, none of whom were employed in the specialty, and the scheme was dropped. At the outbreak of the First World War there was still no specific provision for dental care in the Army and civilian dentists dealt with most soldiers. However, in the middle of the battle of Aisne in October 1914, General Sir Douglas Haig, then Commander of the First Army, was stricken with toothache. With no British dentist available, a French dentist was summoned. Shortly afterwards, a telegram was hastily dispatched to the War Office, and twelve dental surgeons were commissioned into the Services and sent to France. No doubt thus encouraged, recruitment was accelerated from 1916 and by 1918 there were some 850 dental specialists in the RAMC.
Resulting from this experience an Army Dental Corps was formed on 4 January 1921 to provide professional support and up-to-date training, including that of other rank technicians and clerks. Following the Corps' service in the Second World War the Royal prefix was granted.
In 1997 the RADC became part of the newly formed Defence Dental Agency along with the dental branches of the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force.
Inscription
EX DENTIBUS ENSIS
Inscription
JR GAUNT LONDON