Ship's Badges > Unofficial Badges

Unofficial HMS Fitzroy (first one) badge?

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QueenTi:
I have an old, diamond shaped ship’s badge with no name plate or crown, so I’m assuming it’s unofficial. In the middle there is a silver coloured greyhound’s head, with a white and blue checked collar on a black background. The diamond rope border is gold coloured and the whole thing is well moulded and painted, in what is probably naval brass. The greyhound is from the Duke of Grafton’s arms, where there it is a supporter in a sinister position, on my piece the greyhound is in the Dexter position. On the back is stamped FITZROY.
     I know that the first HMS Fitzroy, launched in 1917 had a similar badge approved in September 1923, after its refurbishment in July 1923. The greyhound on the approved badge has a crown and name plate but the greyhound is in the sinister position. So is my badge 4.5 x 4.5 inches and could be an unofficial badge prior to refurbishment .
     Any help ? Thank you

PhiloNauticus:

I would agree, this is likely to be the unofficial, pre-1923 badge.  Quite why they had the hound facing the wrong way I wouldn't know...

QueenTi:
There is a tiny possibility that it is off HMS Beagle, captained by Robert Fitzroy and partly funded by the 4th Duke of Grafton and the Dexter position shows they are in charge. Same goes for a schooner  called HMS Unicorn by Robert Fitzroy, who changed the name to Adventure ( not the same one in Scotland). It is most probably from the first HMS Fitzroy though, put on the bridge perhaps and the reason why it wasn’t official is because of the error. On a HMS ship, the only Dexter position will be a lion, representing the crown?

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