14th Kings Hussars - British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum

bess55 · #1 09-03-23, 02:08 PM

Gents, another recent find, again, my knowledge is not extensive enough to confirm authenticity.

Any opinions are welcomed.

Many thanks in advance chaps

Bess

Alex Rice · #2 10-03-23, 05:57 AM

Hi Bess
In my opinion, the badge is no good, unless it is a poor quality WWI issue. The shape of the head and crown doesn't compare nicely with others, the lack of detail in the sceptre, the style of background stippling and the poor definition of the letters. Also, lack of vent holes at the back.
Cheers,
Alex

Alan O · #3 10-03-23, 09:00 AM

I would agree that is is likely to be reproduction. Sorry.

denis pannett · #4 10-03-23, 10:10 AM

All mine have 4 oblong brazing holes at the back. Denis

bess55 · #5 10-03-23, 10:58 AM

Many thanks all - learning has taken place . . .

Drmiggy · #6 10-03-23, 01:58 PM

I agree with Denis, mine has the same markings

Regards
Ian

Alan O · #7 11-03-23, 08:47 AM

The suggestion that some WW1 issue badges were poor quality is true and a good one. There were a lot of sub contractors used with no pre-war experience of badge making whose products were no where near the high quality of Victorian and Edwardian badge makers. Vent holes were not used, dies were poor and the voiding could be sloppy etc. Bagdes were also made for commercial sale and these were often not to the official spec.

However it is important to look at the regiment concerned: the 14th Hussars, like all cavalry, were a small cavalry regiment with a single 'battalion' (I know it's an infantry term!) and unlike the infantry and yeomanry regiments did not raise duplicate battalions, Service battalions or TF. So the number of badges made was very small and there was not the demand for multiple makers. This is not to say that 1000's of cavalry badges were not made and issued: just that their number is tiny compared to other regiments. Other makers were used so 'wartime' badges made from different dies do exist.

However in the case of the 14 Hussars, this badge design was dropped from use in 1915 and changed to the large brass 'cartwheel' version. So in light of this and the fact that the badge in post 1 matches fake badge made using a known fake die, I believe that it is not WW1 period.

The photo is a genuine lugged example for comparison of the eagle.

PembrokeYeo · #8 29-03-23, 09:54 PM

Excellent summing up Alan. PY.

Alan O · #9 30-03-23, 08:19 AM

This site explains the relative sizes:

https://www.researchingww1.co.uk/bri...-regiment-1914

523 ORs in a Cavalry regiment establishment. 2 cap badges per man and say the same amount in stores would not be unrealistic.

The 14th King's Hussars were in India then Mesopatania in 1916 so did not suffer large casualty numbers until after the eagle badge was gone.