Hi Paul
The badge is cast and solid.
The three badges were part of a collection of Welsh Guards insignia I bought at Toovey's auction house. They were from an estate of a gentleman and part of his very large Guards collection.
My guess is that this OR is part of the first batch of badges made for the regiment. It has been mentioned before on the forum that Welsh Guards OR badges of WW1 were all issued with sliders, not loops. The badge was sealed on 17th May 1915, pattern number 8387, although, according to Dudley-Ward's "History of the Welsh Guards" (1919), the details of the uniform were settled in March 1915. Also he mentions the "re-issue" of badges whilst the battalion was at Douzies (a suburb of Maubeuge, North East France), during September-October 1918.
As to the pagri badge, I don't know when that was sealed or issued. The band was part of the Mass Band, Brigade of Guards during a visit to Italy, Feb-March 1918 and I wonder if they wore the FSH rather than bearskin. Anyone have photographs from this tour?
Bill
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