Ayrshire Yeomanry, the running order for the Other Ranks cap badges

[3dg]

Hello good people of the Forum.
I was encouraged by a fellow forum member, and wanted to start the above subject a long, long while ago, but unfortunately life has a habit of getting in the way!
But done now, so here it is.
I've always loved the badges of the Ayrshire Yeomanry, and it was an AY collar badge stuck to a tankard, that was presented to my dad when he was a PSI with them in the late 70's, that inspired me to collect badges in the first place, so I got myself a pair of aa AY collars and a QOY fox cap badge.
It's only recently, well two years ago,that I decided to do a full study into the subject of the running order (for want of a better expression), of the Other ranks AY cap badges, after reading the 'Proud Trooper' book by Major W Steel Brownlie.
In the book various badges are described, and it's from this source that my main study has come from.
Using the usual books, KK, Wilkinson, Gaylor etc, internet pictures, forum members knowledge, forum members AY badges in their collections, museums archives, and the Ayrshire Yeomanry Old Comrades Association, is how I've come to my conclusions, whether they're right or wrong or agreed with, we'll soon see as the posts are added to the thread, which I look forward to greatly.
I'm going to do a separate post per badge, so if members could kindly wait before posting on the thread, until I've put up the last badge, I'll clearly mark on this post 'LAST BADGE', and then any questions, comments, constructive criticism, additions etc will be most welcome.
I've also given each badge a name, like the 'large of' for example, some have come from expressions already used by members of the forum, some I've made up myself, which may catch on, who knows!
I hope people enjoy the thread.
Cheers all
Chris

[3dg]

Badge one, is the first cap badge worn by the Ayrshire Yeomanry, it's common name is the 'Imperial Yeomanry' badge, as it came about in and around 1902, when the Yeomanry Regiments were still known as Imperial Yeomanry.
The badge is gilding metal, and is based on the arms of the Earl of Carrick, a lion's head, with eagles wings, known within the Regiment as the Griffin. This badge was worn up to 1916.
This badge can be found on loops, I believe these are the earlier ones, different types of loops also.
And the later one, on a vertical shank.
I believe there are three dies of this badge?
Attached are a couple of photos from Google of soldiers wearing the badge, and a looped version and slidered version from my own collection.

[3dg]

Badge two, the Bazaar made badge.
In around May 1916, the AY were concentrated at Kentara, Egypt. The Proud Trooper book says the following, 'It was about this time that consideration was given to a change in the design of the Regimental badge. Two Yeomen put forward sketches with a design.
They were made by native brass workers, who were in the habit of producing all types of badges and numerals
Unpolished brass Badges with scroll were issued soon afterwards.
About August, September 1916 polished brass badges were received from UK, sample having been sent home to a maker'.(See badge three for this badge).
So from this narrative, we can see there was a sand cast Bazaar made badge, the badges attached are believed to be those badges.
The first is mine, a trade with a fellow forum member, the second and third is from a member of the Ayrshire Yeomanry Old Comrades Association, and I've seen another in a forum members collection.
I believe these to be genuine, they look so different to the Imperial Yeomanry pattern, and the later 1916 patterns,but look as if they have been taken from a sketch,and all look from the same cast but with slightly different notches, bumps etc.
Sadly, no photos of them in use, but I think the evidence alone would say these are ok.

[3dg]

Badge three.
As mentioned in the Proud Trooper book on the badge two section, a sample of the Bazaar made badge was sent home to a maker, the badges attached definitely fit the brief, they are called 'cut and shut' as the die stamped Griffin is attached to a solid made scroll, a term used by forum member Alan O, who discovered one of these Badges and put it up for discussion on the forum, the name stuck.
These badges are really well made, and the Griffin is a completely different die to the Imperial Yeomanry ones, so it wasn't a case of soldering that pattern badge to a new scroll. And all these cut and shut Badges are from the same die, as mentioned above there are three dies for the Imperial Yeomanry pattern. The colours of the metals are also both the same.
I've seen seven of these pattern badges now, in various collections, I'm lucky enough to now own one.
So in conclusion, the badges attached I would definitely say these were the first UK made AY cap badges, with the scroll, as later a more cost effective badge, (badge four) came along as a single whole die cast.

Attachment 1 is Alan O's cut and
shut.

Attachment 2 is my own

Attachment 3 is from a member of the Old Comrades Association, this belonging to his Father who served in WW2, the member proudly wore it while serving in the 60's. This was his father's issued badge when he joined in 1939, served during the War, then demobed in 1945, the issue of this 1916 badge will make more sense on the subject of badge number seven

Attachment 4 is the OCA members Dad wearing the badge in WW2.

[3dg]

Badge four
This is the 1916 badge, where the whole badge is one die cast, more cost effective than the two piece cut and shut.
I've seen a fair few of these in various collections, but seem to be fairly hard to get hold of, I've not got one yet.

Attachment 1
Is from Alan O's collection

[3dg]

Badge five
This badge I would say is a fairly newly discovered badge in terms of its of its dating and wear.
The Proud Trooper book says that after WW1, (Gaylor states 1923 in his book), the title scrolls were changed around to read, top left 'AYRSHIRE' top right 'YEOMANRY' bottom scroll 'EARL OF CARRICK'S OWN' as opposed to the 1916 badge scroll top left 'EARL OF' top right 'CARRICK'S' bottom scroll 'AYRSHIRE YEOMANRY'.
This badge is commonly known as the 'Large of' badge, and was always proclaimed as being the one as in Badge number seven.
Looking at Badge seven, all the examples I've come across have never seemed to be from the 20's period, the way they are made, the sliders etc, always seem to point to WW2 era and some possibly post WW2.
A badge found by forum member Luke H fits the 20's era nicely. After some discussion about this badge, I believe this is the one for the 20's Badge. If you look at the lions head, it's in keeping with the 1916 badges, the shorter sloped forehead. The quality of the badge itself is certainly better than badge seven, it's more solid, and has that feel and look of an older badge. The characteristics are a solid chin, hence the name, scroll attached closer to the Griffin, wing tips more voided, period loops.
When you come to read the text about badge seven, you'll see more reasoning to why this badge I'd say is definitely the 20"s era badge.
I've seen four examples of this badge, and are attached below.

Attachment 1
From Luke H's collection

Attachment 2
Kipling King Vol 2 number 2297

Attachment 3
Is from the Olympia auction site, a huge collection that was sold off some years ago, can't remember who's though.

Attachment 4
Is from my own collection