VIII Canadian Hussars
 

The VIII Canadian Hussars have a wide range of badge types. There were several made for the unit while it was regular force.
This example was represented as an officer's badge. Confirmation?

I believe that to be a government issue post 1968 badge. I bought one and the accompanying collar badges from clothing stores in 1986.

Phil

Hi Phil, With the long ball type slider it dates to at least the late 70's. But, is it an officers' pattern or other ranks?

Sorry, meant to specify in my first post. With the strap/scroll in silver/white metal and the coronet in gilt/gilding metal, it is an officers' pattern.

Phil

Thanks Phil. There seem to be a lot of different officers' pattern VIII Hussars cap badges. I have a couple of other ones attributed as such from the time period the unit was regular force.

I have three 8th Hussars' officers' cap badges; a pre-unification by Gaunt, the embroidered beret badge, and the metal (slidered) CF issue.
Just to add to that, I have metal, slidered CF issue officers' cap badges to: Lord Strathcona's Horse, PPCLI, RCR, R22eR, 12eRBC and 8CH.

Phil

It would be useful to have a reference created for the VIII Hussars. There were a lot of badges issued during the period they were regular force.

What was the purpose of the long tab slider with the ball, were you to bend the ball back to stop the badge from falling out of the pocket? I remember that the ball made the cap badge stick out too far and many just broke off the ball.

I have seen the ball bent up but I don't think that was the reason it was added. IIRC, there was a small "pocket" at the bottom of the fabric slide with narrowing that it was pushed through? It would be very awkward to bend the tab and insert it in some head dress.

Hi

When I received my 8th Hussar cap badge upon completion of my TQ3 in 1985, we bent up our balls of the slider. This was to allow for the length of the slider pocket sewn into our issue berets to fit the slider on the badge. For some reason the badge slider was longer than the beret's pocket. As well, the bent ball would provide some resistance to the cap badge falling out.

These were QM issue badges and berets and we were rapidly encouraged by our leaders to acquire brass badges and "belgique" style berets ASAP. :)

Here is a nice early variety VIII CH badge. A bit beat up but lovely Coronet details. May be a Cartouche badge. "J.R.GAUNT" and "MADE IN ENGLAND"

regards
Darrell

With the three lug configuration, it is an interesting variety of the badge. If not for a cartouche, could it be for some other full dress? The quality is superior to regular badges.

Hi Bill

First two pics are the 70s-80s ones that I had tucked away. The Officer's badge is on the left. Nowadays Hussar Officers wear a cloth bullion badge.

I found a couple more older NCM badges (pic 3&4) this weekend at the big Sussex Flea Market. Nice Brass one I may have to shine up and wear in my newfound posn in the Unit and the broken lugged one is interesting in that it was a slider at some point. The lugs don't look like a factory job but I could be wrong.

My only badge finds but I did very well in a few other areas. :cool:

regards
Darrell

Hi

Another one.

No marks other than the soldier's Surname, initial and last 3 scratched into it.

regards
Darrell

Hi

New issue to me last week.

regards
Darrell

Is that an officer's badge? Have you crossed over to the dark side:)