Researching the uniforms and insignia worn by Maltese and British regiments is one of my many interests.

I’m currently researching two particular items and am seeking assistance from readers. It concerns the regimental titles worn by soldiers of the King’s Own Malta Regiment on their battledress.

When the battledress was issued in 1937 until the end of World War II, subdued slip-on titles with just KOMR were worn. After the war, until the 1960s, they were replaced by curved red titles, which some call crimson, with King’s Own Malta R. in white cotton thread, worn on the upper sleeve of the BD, just below the shoulder seams.

Then there is another pattern, also in red, but with just  K.O.M.R. in white thread. These are reputed to have come later. Since, by the late 1960s, the regiment was already part of the Malta Land Force, I’m not sure if any army orders or dress regulations approving these titles exist, so I cannot confirm whether they were actually issued and worn.

Some ex-members are reputed to have said that these last pattern titles with just K.O.M.R. were issued close to when the regiment was disbanding, while others said that they were about to be issued but never did because the regiment had already been disbanded.

I have also learnt that there is another pattern about with the title King’s Own Malta Regt., but this is just a bad modern copy.

Any clarification is appreciated.