Medical Officer’s Collar Badge 1918 Pattern

Medical officers in the RAF can be distinguished by their collar badges depicting the Caduceus of Mercury or, in this example, the Rod of Asclepius.

Three patterns of Medical Officer’s collar badges were introduced during the first two years of the RAF’s existence. This example is the second pattern introduced in May 1918. This depicts a single serpent looped around a cross topped by a crown and with the wreathed motto ‘Nec Aspera Terrent, (difficulties be damned) below. In 1920 a third design, depicting the twin entwined serpents and winged staff of the Caduceus of Mercury, was adopted and has remained in use to this day.