Some 8 Gurkha Rifles Badges - British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum

#1 28-06-17, 05:15 PM

Good day folks

Here are three 8GR badges that I have.

Bottom left is a regular hat badge - 8 above crossed kukri. Top is, I think an older officers badge on a brooch fitting. I have a number of Indian Army cap badges were the officer's badge has the numeral above the heraldic cross piece.

The third is a bit of a puzzle. Ashok Nath in his book notes that this is a cross belt badge but this seems a bit small and has a brooch fitting. But the fitting is upside down.

An the last photo is of my small collection of Gurkha badges.

Best

James

gurkharifles · #2 28-06-17, 08:51 PM

Hi James

lovely to see some interesting Gurkha badges. I really like the 8th with the cross piece between the kukris - it's not illustrated in the Gurkha Museum's booklet on the insignia of the Regt - but I'd be pretty confident that it's genuine and would love to own it myself. The 8th badge with the scroll is illustrated ( 32mm high x 35mm ) it's listed as "unknown use" - and possibly a sweetheart brooch. Your collection is really nice and the only obvious dud is the "15th" - ( there's no such regiment - it was made in error for the 10th Gurkhas in the 1930's - but was never worn by anyone - an interesting curio but nothing more ) - but it still appears in dealers list on a regular basis. Thanks for sharing James - cheers Tim

Khyber · #3 29-06-17, 03:48 AM

Some lovely badges, James!

I don't have a single Gurkha badge and I've never attempted to buy one on ebay as they all seem to be fakes/copies..

Piffer · #4 29-06-17, 09:33 AM

A Splendid selection, thanks for sharing. The pouch flap badge worn on the officers shoulder belt by the 8th Gurkha Rifles was bigger and had a de-attachted numeral "8", and the scroll was different, it is illustrated life size as nr 1160 in Ashok Nath's book Sowars and Sepoys in the Great War.
The upcoming Bosley's sale of 5 July appear to have some nice Gurkha pieces which include SBP's to 1GR, 2/1 GR, 2GR, 3GR, estimates start at GBP 500 and above on some of them.

#5 29-06-17, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Khyber

Some lovely badges, James!

I don't have a single Gurkha badge and I've never attempted to buy one on ebay as they all seem to be fakes/copies..

Ebay is a nightmare. You rarely see a pukka GR badge there.

J

#6 29-06-17, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Piffer

A Splendid selection, thanks for sharing. The pouch flap badge worn on the officers shoulder belt by the 8th Gurkha Rifles was bigger and had a de-attachted numeral "8", and the scroll was different, it is illustrated life size as nr 1160 in Ashok Nath's book Sowars and Sepoys in the Great War.
The upcoming Bosley's sale of 5 July appear to have some nice Gurkha pieces which include SBP's to 1GR, 2/1 GR, 2GR, 3GR, estimates start at GBP 500 and above on some of them.

Bosley's price things so highly. I'd rather be a seller with them than a buyer.

peter monahan · #7 30-06-17, 01:03 PM

It may be that the pinback badge was menat, maybe even modified for, wear on a Terai hat puggaree.

gurkharifles · #8 30-06-17, 05:42 PM

I thought I'd share some of my 8th Gurkha badges - you'll see that once the 8th design took over from the 43rd/44th/7th there are numerous variations - and continue to the current day as the Indian army's 8th Gorkha badge is identical - the only badge on the board that I know is Indian is the one similar to Jame's illustration albeit the spelling on the scroll is "Gorkha" rather than Gurkha. Tim

Roy · #9 30-06-17, 05:45 PM

Some really interesting badges there, well done.

I'm intrigued by the HM silver example (see screen shot) is that a sweetheart or an official badge?

Cheers,

Roy

gurkharifles · #10 30-06-17, 06:02 PM

It's a pouch badge Roy hallmarked Birmingham 1892 - with Brent and Parker makers stamp . I believe it's complete and there was no separate 8 . Tim

Roy · #11 30-06-17, 06:35 PM

Hi Tim,

Thanks for that mate. A really cracking piece indeed and lovely to see.

Cheerio,

Roy

Piffer · #12 30-06-17, 10:37 PM

Thanks for sharing, a lovely collection indeed, especially the unique and rare 44 GLI headdress badge.

irish · #13 01-07-17, 02:14 AM

As already mentioned some great looking badges.

I would also like to add some Gurkha badges to my collection. But as stated it could be a mine field at this late stage. Ebay is a no go in my opinion for these pieces.
Jack

gurkharifles · #14 01-07-17, 07:27 AM

I got the 44 GLI badge off Ashok Nath many years ago - and have never seen one since. As for Jack's point on e bay - I've found a few nuggets over the years but the are very few and far between and you really need to know what your looking for. Tim