West Kent queries
 

I think these badges have been the subject of other threads, but does anyone have any positive information on these two?

The larger badge has copper wires N-S, possibly a pagri badge?

Thanks in advance Rob

Might it be a bandsman’s pouch badge, although they invariably have screw posts or long loops and the wire seems odd? Also not sure about the size of your badge.

West Kent
 

Toby, I have put this on my West Kent board as Kent Cyclist Btn, as to whether the large badge is that I remain to be corrected.

Thanks for your idea.

Rob

The smaller badge on lugs appears to be a RWK cap badge with the lower scroll cut off. The font is a Gothic script worn by the infantry RWK where as the Kent Cyclists and RK Yeomanry wore Roman script. The Yeomanry and Cyclists were identical in design.

The larger badge is of a style of horse also seen on officers cap badges and is distinctly different for the ORs horse. The wires suggest a pouch fixing.

West Kent badges
 

Many thanks for your help chaps, as I said the larger badge with wires is on my West Kent board, but I will have to transfer the smaller one to my Buffs boards as I have since found out it is the 1st Volunteer Btn of The Buffs from another collector.

As The Buffs are one of my favoured Regiments due to a family member who died in The Great War whilst serving with them on the Western Front this will be a pleasure . . !

Regards Rob

Rob

Sorry but your id is not correct. 1 VB Buffs wore the Buffs dragon in black and continued to wear the same badge but with a new title when they were 4th Bn TF from 1908.

Here is the photographic evidence of this:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/soldier-1...3D382080534078

Alan

The Buffs wore the white horse with Invicta scroll as a collar badge at one time as did the East Kent Militia, but the badge shown isn't one of these, wrong metal (and font?) for one, wrong scroll design for the other.

The 1st VB Buffs, as the East Kent Rifles did wear a white horse badge, there's a photo and on the cover of Westlake's "Tracing the Rifle Volunteers".

Also, attached some pics I found online of the band.

Keith

Whilst the bandmaster is wearing a large Kent Horse, he appears to be on his own as the previous photo of the 1st VB other ranks shows the black dragon.

http://machadoink.com/Military_The%20Band.htm

Alan

Yes, unfortunately he is. In my opinion he’s wearing his old EKR badge which I also think the 1st V.B. wore on their fsc until they adopted the Brodrick of which there are numerous photos around with them wearing the blackened dragon.

The Buffs VB are one of the few (possibly the only one I have seen) Volunteer units to have adopted the Brodrick. The remainder retained the FSC or slouch hat. I would have expected the Buffs VB to have worn their collar as a FSC badge prior to the adoption of the full sized cap badge and the Brodrick.

I would agree that the bandmaster may have been wearing a East Kent badge.

Alan

East Kent FSC
 

As I understand it this badge was worn by the 1st VB Buffs in the Field Service cap, probably before the Broderick was adopted.

Rob

Rob, I would say that the badge the bandmaster is wearing is the same as your large badge, going by the size of the badge and the short deep scroll with the pronounced dip in the centre. If it is then I would presume it had different fixings.

Kent badge
 

Hoot, I think both badges will migrate to my Buffs board, thanks for you input.

Rob