The recent loss of sand from our beaches has uncovered a remarkable piece of military history, albeit a rather small one.

Former Walton lifeboatman, Keith Richardson, picked up this remnant of an army cap badge while searching among the stones and rocks around Sloper’s Nose at Southcliff.

It is only the name part of the cap badge which is made of brass.

The remainder of the badge which was formed in an inferior metal has not survived.

This is what the full cap badge would have originally looked like.

Keith kindly showed me his find as he wondered if this same badge appeared on the military group photo which I posted here back in November last year.

Subsequent information from military historians can be seen here.

The 29th Provisional Battalion of the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment became the 21st Sherwood Forresters on 1st January 1917 and was based initially…