Canadian Sporran Badges
 

Not much has been posted on Canadian sporran badges. To start a string on these badges, here is an image of the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada sporran badge. It is in brass, and has three lugs, two east-west and one north.

The 85th normally used the cap badges on their sporan of which there were three types of spoarn OR's, NCO,s and officers. I always assumed incorrectly that the O.R.s wore a one peice badge and all the NCO's wore the two peice and the officers wore the three peice badges. I have a few sporans and since I purchased a large lot of Highland Brigade photos and from some of my reference books have noted some exceptions.

The OR's generally wore a sporan with a Black leather cantle with a single peice badge the same as the cap badge. The NCO's wore a sporan with a silver top with those under the rank od Sgt. wearing a single peice badge like the OR's and Sgt's haveing a two peice badge brass with white metal overlay. The officers version sporan is a silver top with etched thisles on either side of the badge which is a three peice version same as the cap.

There is one exception to this though I have noted a number of example of the sporan with a private purchase 2 peice badge which is different from any other 85th badge. I have only noted this badge on OR's and NCO's sporans The notable differences are:

The overlay is solid not voided like the standard cap badge overlays.
The badge is slightly larger then the cap badge
The stem is of a different shape
The brass part of the badge is not stamped like the badge but flat when seen from the back.
The lugs are longer.

I have included a photo of this badge anyone seeing this badge will beable to pick it out right away without difficulty. it is not known to be faked and is rather hard to find. I do have two examples in my collection one is a documented badge which is on a named OR's sporan which was part of a uniform grouping to the same man the second is one I bought loose.

Stephen

Photos to follow this post, If I can find them in this mess I like to call a hard drive. This Irish Regiment of Canada ORs Stepping out sporran, horsehair with two tassels, used the ORs Cap Badge. The ORs Day sporran, plain pebbled leather, used a MAid of Erin Harp.

Seaforth Sporran Badge
 

Interesting Sporran Badge for the Seaforth, I have one myself. I have always been curious about this badge specifically, as it was never worn that I know of. I have questioned all the avid collectors in the regiment itself and the overall consensus is that this badge was issued at the same time as the much hated "1923" version OR's cap badge, which was flat with the coronet and cypher. There are no photo's anywhere in the archives, which are extensive, showing the badge being worn. By photographic record, the Regiment, including the Pipes and Drums have only worn the brass Stag and Scroll for OR's (seperate peices) for the OR's on a black patent leather cantle, and officers and SNCO's have the different white metal or silver Stags with thistle laurels. If anyone has any other I deas on this badge specific I would appreciate it.

Pictou Highlanders
 

2-piece Pictou Highlanders sporran badge, per Mazeas. Appears to be silver plated, as the lugs are plated as well. Also, has what looks like remains of oxblood boot polish on the reverse. Did highlanders polish their sporrans?

Polishing of Sporrans
 

Seaforth of C Sporrans are always shone, the OR's cantles are not black patent leather but might appear so when polished appropriatelly, all brass items highly shone as well. This includes the Leather purse (SNCO/Off type as well as the OR's) which are spit shone in Oxblood, no devices or badges on these.

While on the subject of Seaforth sporran badges I have a question. Is anyone familier with the last badge pictured? The badge fits the cantel perfectly and the badge has two screw post fasteners. The first is an officers, the second a senior NCOs and the third an ORs.

Hi Kammer, Not sure exactly what you are asking? The last badge is the 72nd Regiment Seaforth Highlanders of Canada, pre 1914, and worn by the 72nd Battalion CEF.

Keeping in mind that the first three sporran badges have been worn since the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada were formed, i have never seen the fourth one worn.

Interesting. As indicated, the 72 badge was worn up to the end of WW1 and probably well into the post WW1 era.

For future reference in this thread, ORs (jr NCOs) in the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada were issued the sporran in the third image, in 1977-1978. All of our kit was seriously dated; I still have the issued two-piece brass stag's head sporran badge. We used kiwi black on the sporran face, and brasso mixed with jeweler's rouge on the badge and metal sporran fittings.

Hi all, attached is a pic of a Winnipeg Highland Cadets officers sporran. The badge appears to be a silver badge of the cadet corps, CD.44 (Mazeas). I have a few other military badges and will post them shortly.

Cheers,

Greg

Attached is the current issue Lake Superior Scottish sporran badge. It is the top left badge in the picture. I believe Chris Brooker had one up for auction recently.

Greg

Greg, I have a matched pair of that upper left badge, (beaver's face inwards) and was under the impression that they were officer's collars pre-1949. Second question, would the beaver face left or right on a sporran? I was under the impression that they faced left?

Good observance Bill. Until the Chris Brooker's recent auction I had no idea that there were L&R versions or that there might be another use for the badge. I bought the badge directly from the most senior NCO in the LSR and a avid collector of LSR badges who clearly identified it as a sporran badge so I have no doubt it was worn as a sporran badge. Perhaps it was worn as both, a collar and a sporran? Could it be that the obsolete collars were retained as a talisman to honour the old regiment? I'll try to contact my friend in the regiment and ask him.

Greg