Two to id

[badjez]

Any ideas on these two items please?

a) A large cord boss, 32mm diameter (larger than the average). The badge on the front is a white metal Scottish thistle. There are no obvious attachments, such as wires, for fitting this boss, but it does appear to have traces of glue on it. I've no idea what the boss cord is woven around, but it is similar to dark hard dark rubber!

b) A cast bronze stag's head and antlers in the style, and motto of the QO Highlanders. It measures 40mm x 35mm, which is smaller than the usual Scottish headdress badges.

Stephen.

[Mike H]

Im sure the second one is a collar badge to the Seaforth Hldrs.
The 1st ive seen but cant think where. Could.be on one of the sites that sell mainly Scottish militaria.

[Paul Spellman]

The Boss badge looks like a type worn by the HLI on the diced Shako.
Any sign of fixing,wire or screw post?
Paul

The collar purports to be Seaforths but looks a bit rough, not sure why the Antlers are nearly touching.

[Phillip Herring]

The second badge is an officers' service dress collar badge for the Seaforth Highlanders. It looks very rough so possibly locally made?

[peter monahan]

Originally Posted by Phillip Herring

The second badge is an officers' service dress collar badge for the Seaforth Highlanders. It looks very rough so possibly locally made?

Yes, it has the look of a 'theatre made' piece: India or the Middle East perhaps.

[badjez]

Thanks for responses.

Paul, the boss has no wire, screw fitting or anything else visible.
Peter, agreed, a very rough item not of the quality I would have expected from Gaunt or Jennens etc. The antlers might have been bent closer at some stage as they are not joined at the tip.

Please could I dig further and elicit possible dates of wear etc?

Thanks, Stephen.

A little digging based upon your guidance has found this helmet image, courtesy of The HLI (Highland Light Infantry) monument in Glasgow's Kelvingrove Park, erected to commemorate those in the Regiment who died in the South African War. The thistle is not identical, but it also varies on all the other shakos pictured on-line. I don't know the period of wear for this helmet so I imagine there might have been variations in manufacture over time.

The stag's head badge matches those in Churchill (Fig 1685).

[Paul Spellman]

Stephen,
The Diced Shako was worn as part of Levee (ceremonial) Dress at least up until the start of WW2, there are a few variants of the thistle.
Paul

[badjez]

Thanks Paul.

Not an area I usually collect to so it will probably come onto the market, if I can work out a reasonable valuation.

Stephen.