Natal Light Horse shoulder title, clearly not!

[Traist]

Originally Posted by Frank Kelley

Hello Andrew,
Is there any provenance with the helmet, which I like very much, it is as good an example as you are ever likely to see and a rare tale of survival.
Regards Frank

Hi Frank, inside the helmet it has 114 E.W. Tait , 3 Troop, C Squadron, NLH. Regards Andrew

[Frank Kelley]

Good heavens Andrew,
It is like having a medal, what can you tell us about him, have you looked at his medal cards?
Kind regards Frank

Originally Posted by Traist

Hi Frank, inside the helmet it has 114 E.W. Tait , 3 Troop, C Squadron, NLH. Regards Andrew

[Traist]

Hi Frank, I haven't had a chance to pull his service record yet. Regards Andrew

[Frank Kelley]

Hello Andrew,
I think I would look into that if I were you!
Regards Frank

Originally Posted by Traist

Hi Frank, I haven't had a chance to pull his service record yet. Regards Andrew

[iaindh]

Hi Frank,

it makes a lot of sense; I wonder why they made succh a complicated cap badge in the first place

regards, Iain

Originally Posted by Frank Kelley

Hello Iain,
My own thoughts would have to be as the badges were made in three pieces and then had to be hand finished, I would suggest that a far greater number of titles were made and worn.
Regards Frank

[Frank Kelley]

Hello Iain,
These badges were really attractive, I've always liked them and I've had mine for many years now, but, yes, I see what you mean, compared to a Botha's Natal Horse for example.
Kind regards Frank

Originally Posted by iaindh

Hi Frank,

it makes a lot of sense; I wonder why they made succh a complicated cap badge in the first place

regards, Iain

[milhistry]

Hello. Pleased to find this thread as I was fortunate enough to pick up one of the more ornate cap badge versions in an auction a few years ago. Could it be that the fancier wildebeest and crown cap badge was perhaps intended for officers only? I found this picture of Park Grey wearing one on the internet a while ago which shows it being worn along with no collar badges a la SAMR fashion.
The s/t as cap badge could simply also be due to a shortage of the fancier type being available in time?

[Frank Kelley]

I would be of the opinion that they were worn by all ranks rather than just officers, but, you have to bare in mind the way it was made and then it had to finished off by hand, the normal title was simply made in just a single piece, with only the fittings to add.
The first one I ever bought came in a group that included the Great War medals and a small amount of related material, but, this particular fellow did not hold a commission.

Originally Posted by milhistry

Hello. Pleased to find this thread as I was fortunate enough to pick up one of the more ornate cap badge versions in an auction a few years ago. Could it be that the fancier wildebeest and crown cap badge was perhaps intended for officers only? I found this picture of Park Grey wearing one on the internet a while ago which shows it being worn along with no collar badges a la SAMR fashion.
The s/t as cap badge could simply also be due to a shortage of the fancier type being available in time?

[Traist]

Nice picture. Thank you. Regards Andrew