Nice WW1 (1915+) Machine Gun Corps Officer's Collar badge. In good condition with both lugs intact to rear.

At the outbreak of the First World War (1914-18), the British Army had no specialist machine-gun unit, simply providing two heavy Maxim or Vickers machine guns for each cavalry regiment and infantry battalion.

By November 1914, as the Western Front slowed to a stalemate, this system needed supplementing. A Machine Gun School was established at Wisques in northern France and a Motor Machine Gun Service (MMGS) of motorcycle-mounted machine guns was established within the Royal Artillery.

The machine gun dominated trench warfare and within a few months it became clear that a new specialist unit was needed to further develop machine-gun tactics while also training more men in the weapon's use.

The Machine Gun Corps (MGC) was established in October 1915 by gathering together battalion Maxim/Vickers machine-gun sections from all infantry regiments. Light Lewis machine guns were then introduced and used by all troops.

The MGC was organized as follows:

• Infantry Branch: Comprised machine gun companies assigned to infantry brigades, providing both offensive and defensive fire support

  
  

• Cavalry Branch: Formed machine gun squadrons for each cavalry brigade

  
  

• Motor Branch: Created by absorbing the Motor Machine Gun Service and Royal Navy armoured car units, operating motorcycles, light armoured cars, and patrol vehicles

  
  

• Heavy Branch: Established in 1916, this branch operated the first tanks in combat before becoming the Tank Corps in 1917, later known as the Royal Tank Regiment

The MGC was a prime target for the enemy and earned itself the moniker of the "Suicide Club" on account of the extent of casualties (62,000 out of 170,000 officers and men). 7 Victoria Crosses were earned in 1917-1918.

The MGC was disbanded in 1922 when Army organisation reverted to the pre-war status of having machine gun sections embedded in each infantry battalion.