Officers' cap/glengarry badges

[WilliamRev]

Some Scottish regiments had officers' cap/glengarry/tam o shanter badges which were different from those for other-ranks. I know the Scottish Rifles did, and the Royal Scots Fusiliers also - below is a photo of a RSF officers' ( 18 carat gold-plated) glengarry badge (right) next to an O.R. glengarry/tam o shanter badge. [On my avatar my grandfather can be seen wearing the bling gold-plated glengarry badge.]

Was this just a lowland -Scottish thing, or were there other regiments that had spendidly different cap-badges for officers? Perhaps in Victorian times every regiment had these lovely badges for officers, but lost them when new caps demanded new smaller badges for all ranks?

I am rather ignorant when it comes to WW1 cap badges! So.... any contributions are welcome...

William

[FROGSMILE]

Some Scottish regiments had officers' cap/glengarry/tam o shanter badges which were different from those for other-ranks. I know the Scottish Rifles did, and the Royal Scots Fusiliers also - below is a photo of a RSF officers' ( 18 carat gold-plated) glengarry badge (right) next to an OT glengarry/tam o shanter badge. [On my avatar my grandfather can be seen wearing the bling gold-plated glengarry badge.]

Was this just a lowland -Scottish thing, or were there other regiments that had spendidly different cap-badges for officers? Perhaps in Victorian times every regiment had these lovely badges for officers, but lost them when new caps demanded new smaller badges for all ranks?

I am rather ignorant when it comes to WW1 cap badges! So.... any contributions are welcome...

William

When the glengarry cap was first introduced for all regiments of the line, in 1868, the ORs and officers had different badges, as had been traditional on all other forms of head dress. After 1881 the badges design (but not size) changed to reflect new regimental titles and the policy of different badges continued, but in new patterns. The officers badges were generally gilded and the mens of brass or white metal. The final pattern of badge for the men made use of the full dress helmet's removable centre plates with a separate crown above. the officers badge was stand alone and had a circular strap with a trailing chape at bottom centre. Fusiliers and Rifles, however, had their own designs.

Around 1898 the glengarry was replaced for non-Scottish regiments and new badges were designed for the smaller Field Service Cap that were later also used for the Brodrick and SD caps. These are the badges that we have come to know so well as iconography of the two World wars.

Scottish regiments continued to wear the same glengarry badges with different designs for men and officers, although in some regiments it was more the metals used rather than the design itself that was different. Others used three dimensional designs that stood proud when looked at from the side. Similar badges in both size and design were worn on various forms of undress bonnet (e.g. Tam o Shanter, Balmoral, Atholl).

In addition to the two types of badge there was a third known as the "Staff Badge" that was worn by many (but not all) regiments. This latter badge was worn by Staff Serjeants (specialist SNCOs in battalion level appointments) and later, by warrant officers. It was in effect a superior badge to the ORs, but usually inferior in some respect to the officers.

I enclose an officers and a soldiers glengarry badge for the Royal Dublin Fusiliers as illustration.

[FROGSMILE]

and ORs.

[WilliamRev]

Many thanks for that information. Until I came across the photo of my grandfather I had rather simplistically assumed that each regiment/corps had a universal cap-badge (I seem to remember that I have seen a book on WW1 cap-badges in print, which has a photo of one cap-badge per regiment), and was rather confused to discover that some had several more badges.

William

[FROGSMILE]

Many thanks for that information. Until I came across the photo of my grandfather I had rather simplistically assumed that each regiment/corps had a universal cap-badge (I seem to remember that I have seen a book on WW1 cap-badges in print, which has a photo of one cap-badge per regiment), and was rather confused to discover that some had several more badges.

William

By the 1st WW the differences were less elaborate and, with the exception of Scottish regiments, were largely confined to the officers badges being in so-called officers service dress bronze (OSD) and the other ranks in gilding metal (GM - aka brass).

[FROGSMILE]

ORs GM.

[Steven Broomfield]

Although, of course, some regiments had different badges for officers.

For example, rifle regiments having a small cord boss rather than the cap badge 9as did, I think, the R Berkshire Regiment). The Hampshires and the Licolns also had, I believe, a different pattern badge for offciers.

Trouble is, most badge books depict the o.r. badge and leave the officers' version out.

[FROGSMILE]

Although, of course, some regiments had different badges for officers.

For example, rifle regiments having a small cord boss rather than the cap badge 9as did, I think, the R Berkshire Regiment). The Hampshires and the Licolns also had, I believe, a different pattern badge for offciers.

Trouble is, most badge books depict the o.r. badge and leave the officers' version out.

Yes as I implied, both the Fusiliers and Rifles did their own thing, but I did not want to muddy the water with too much detail for the original poster, who it seemed to me was making a general enquiry. There were indeed several regiments that used corded bosses on SD caps and FSCs for their officers.