[KLR]

‘Foreign Service’ cap badges (unofficial), c1895 - 1926 (cf Liverpool Mus archives)

1st (Gaunt et al) c 1896-26, all ranks.

This badge design was worn by officers and Other Ranks of the 1st Bn – ie FS1. The badge was also worn by the 2nd Bn ORs only – see below FS2 for 2nd Bn officers. There are five Gaunt dies 1A S&G, 1AA S&G adapted, 1B OSD, 1C and 1D OR GM. Die 2 and Die 3 only OR GM, no manufacturers’ names; Die 2 is sufficiently different to the Gaunt series and Die 3 – 3A and 3B are very different to Dies 1 and 2. The distinguishing aspects on all these badges are thecontinuously twisted torse and the absence of an apostrophe on the scroll.
All marked (and unmarked) Gaunt have a flaw on the scroll, lower right of letter N. It was worn by the 1st Bn overseas. It comes in S&G, OSD and BM.



Yours is Die 3 - in my classification (anonymous maker)


Note the long slider worn on the FSH and Slouch.


The design is that later was taken over by firmin for the 1926 regular Pattern

There is another type - ie FS2 which are only officer's badges (S&G and OSD)- the 2nd Bn OR badges wore the BM FS1 !
This design was very close to the unofficial J&Co officer badge - then that design was adopted by Gaunt after they bought out J&Co in 1925 - including their dies !(see my album)


FS1 - then long slider, then FS2