Badge of Rank - Worsted Pips

Pip

The first British Army rank insignia were introduced in 1760. Badges for field officers were first introduced in 1810. These badges consisted of (and still consist of) crowns and pips. These rank insignia were worn on shoulder epaulettes. The insignia was moved to the shoulder boards in 1880 for all officers in full dress, when the system of crowns and stars was reorganised on similar lines to that seen today. Exceptions included the rank of Brigadier General (now Brigadier) and until 1902, a Captain had just two stars and a Lieutenant one star. From 1871, the rank of Ensign was replaced with the rank of Second Lieutenant, which had no insignia.

The 1902 change gave the latter a single pip and the insignia of Lieutenants and Captains were increased to two and three pips respectively. In addition to the shoulder badges, officers' ranks were also reflected in the amount and pattern of gold lace worn on the cuffs of the full-dress tunic. During World War I, some officers took to wearing tunics with the rank badges on the shoulder, as the cuff badges made them too conspicuous to snipers. This practice was frowned on outside the trenches but was given official sanction in 1917 as an optional alternative, being made permanent in 1920, when the cuff badges were abolished. The embroidered pips are usually reserved for Garrison wear or worn with the training uniform, the no.4 dress (field wear).  

 Here at Active Gear, we supply embroidered pips. We sell high quality worsted white on khaki or scarlet pips and embroidered pips sewn on British Woodland DPM or Olive Green rank slides and can include name of force.