Somerset Light Infantry

[Anjoucollector]

I have two badges : small and large pattern. Qo you know why and when were they worn ? Thank you.

[Mike H]

Beret and Cap

[Alan O]

The smaller badge was not just for the beret but was introduced years before WW2 and berets.

The large badge shown is a restrike - the A should be fully voided and the Victorian era lugged version had vertically placed lugs.

[Anjoucollector]

Thank you for your wise comments. Do you think small badge is genuine ?

[Alan O]

Yes.

[Alan O]

A genuine Victorian one for comparison with correctly voided letters.

[Jeff Mc William]

Originally Posted by Alan O

A genuine Victorian one for comparison with correctly voided letters.

Thanks Alan. Just one more thing ; are the lugs copper or brass ? J

[Alan O]

Probably copper. They are age-blacked so appear very dark.

I don't know when lugs switched from brass to copper but as you know glengarrys' are often brass.

[Jeff Mc William]

Originally Posted by Alan O

Probably copper. They are age-blacked so appear very dark.

I don't know when lugs switched from brass to copper but as you know glengarrys' are often brass.

Yes, thanks Alan. That's one thing I am trying to establish. There does not seem to be any particular date and was probably a manufacturer's decision adopted gradually around the 1896 - 1900 period in my opinion. Regards Jeff

[Alan O]

Jeff

If you go to my Victorian Infantry and Cavalry albums, all of the badges in their appear to have copper lugs. They were all introduced circa 1896-7 and many of them can be dated to pre-1901 to 1902.

[Jeff Mc William]

Originally Posted by Alan O

Jeff

If you go to my Victorian Infantry and Cavalry albums, all of the badges in their appear to have copper lugs. They were all introduced circa 1896-7 and many of them can be dated to pre-1901 to 1902.

With you on that Alan. Thanks. However my research into this reveals that the ORs HPCs of the period 1881 to 1914 had both brass and copper loops, and at one time I did have some Vic (post 1896) cap badges to the R.Scots, R.Fus, QVC Suffolk, Norfolk, and KOB in my collection some years ago (among others) that (according to my records) had brass lugs fitted.
I have yet to see any official notifications which deal with this matter so, at the moment can only assume that perhaps that copper lugs came in gradually after the change to "gilding-metal" was adopted. But .. who knows for certain ?? Regards. Jeff

PS: Having said that tho' .. there are some shako plates with copper lugs ... ahhhhgghhh !!
PPS: And, as you say, some verified PT Glengarry badges have both brass & copper lugs. Manufacturer's whim ?