Something's missing! A forensic badge case

[Terra Nova]

This badge, or part of a badge, more accurately, has languished in my "odd bits" box for quite some time. I'd like to call on your forensic skills to identify and, if possible, illustrate what the whole/complete badge would look like.

As clues, I offer:

- a white metal bugle badge with roman numeral "XIII"
- the bugle measures 50 mm (2 inches) across
-rough incisions on the top of the XIII suggest a device may have been on it -possibly a heraldic creature of some kind?
-two lugs on the back of the early style (flat inside, well domed on the outside), suggesting to me use within the Victorian era (how's that for narrowing it down?!) Lugs measure 11 mm (7/16 inch) from bottom to top.

Thank you and happy sleuthing!

with kindest regards,

Tim

[ianh67military]

The 13th Regiment of Foot was to become the Somerset Light Infantry.
XIII was worn as a cloth badge as late as the Second World War.
Best of luck with your mission.

Regards,
Ian H

[Terra Nova]

Thank you, Ian, that may be the right track.

Let's see if someone has a picture of the complete badge or another suggestion.

[Luke H]

Previously discussed here

https://www.britishbadgeforum.com/fo...ght=13th+bugle

Here

https://www.britishbadgeforum.com/fo...highlight=13th

And here

https://www.britishbadgeforum.com/fo...ght=13th+bugle

[Terra Nova]

Hello Luke,

(or should I say "Sherlock?"). You've cracked the case wide open. Many thanks for the decisive response and links.

Now, if only badges were like starfish, able to regenerate missing bits...!

with best wishes,

Tim

[Terra Nova]

Kindly bear with me. Luke's response was excellent and showed superb examples of the complete badge. I am light years ahead of where I was.

Perhaps, I'm missing something in the commentaries, however as the discussions regarding a possible Canadian, Indian, Australian or British (Regular and Volunteers) don't appear to have come to a positive ID as to what unit actually used it, though consensus is more likely some unit or other of Rifle Volunteers - or have it missed it? Thank you.

best regards to all,

Tim

[cbuehler]

I might add that the fragment in question may actually be made of a silver alloy due to the lack of corrosion, and it's quality would indicate it may possibly be for an officer.

CB

[Terra Nova]

Thank you, CB. You may very well be right. It has a little bit of dark tarnish happening such as one might find with silver.

all the best,

Tim