5th Gurkha Regiment Badge

[hkbuttonman]

I saw this badge in a dealers showcase, and I am guessing that it is a 5th Gurkha Regiment Pagri badge. The size is roughly 5 cm wide by 3.3 cm tall, and it appears to be made of unmarked silver. Am I correct in this assumption, and around what dates would it have been worn ?

Thanks in advance for any help.

[gurkharifles]

My thanks to Karl (aka HK buttonman ) for facilitating the purchase of this badge from the dealer ( I assumed the dealer would be in Hong Kong but no, Southend !) Anyway delighted to have purchased this variant of a 5thGR helmet badge worn from the late 1880's to 1925, also worn by OR's on the Kilmarnock cap. What makes it different to the other examples I have is that it's fractionally smaller (52mm wide) than the usual (55mm wide ) but more significantly the "5" is joined to the blades ( whereas it's separate in the other examples ) - it also has a stout pin badge rather than lugs ( although the evidence of the lugs being previously present is clear). I considered whether it had just been converted into a sweetheart brooch - but I'm fairly convinced that it's built too robustly for that and more likely worn on the helmet cloth or perhaps a servants badge? Either way a nice find. Tim

[Gurkha]

Very Nice Tim.

Regards
Steve