1st (Royal) Dragoons

[GriffMJ]

1st (Royal) Dragoons c1915-19: what is the badges height and width and is it lugged?

[Noodles]

Hi Griff,

Most are lugged, because it was originally a collar badge ( actually worn from 1911 onwards on the FSH). though I do believe some were converted with sliders, though these are as rare as rocking horse **** to be honest and i've never seen one.

Noodles.

[tonyb]

Hello Noodles ,
A question regarding use of collar badge as cap,was it eagle facing left , right or either way?
Regards Tony.

[2747andy]

Not sure about this being worn as a collar as during this period almost all cap badges would have been slidered and also as there was a War on and battledress was the order of the day, ORs would not have worn collars... I've got an example shown in my Household Cavalry album, not sure if it is genuine but it has a slider!

Andy

[GriffMJ]

Hi Andy

I think the one in your HC Album is the c1948-69? The earlier one is a smaller Eagle and the wreath looks bigger on the eagle.

[Noodles]

Are we not talking about the small unofficial eagle badge which was worn in preference to the royal crest badge ? If so, I thought they wore the collar badge and some of these were converted with sliders ?

In L&D soldiers of the 1RD are wearing the collar badge in the foriegn service helmet.

If I am correct, Tonyb, it is the right hand collar badge.

(I think I am right).

Noodles.

[GriffMJ]

The c1915-19 were made privately for the Regiment by a firm in Hythe. In 1919 the regiment, under pressure, reverted back to the Royal crest again until the 1948 Eagle came into being.

[Noodles]

Hi Griff,

I'm not sure whether the Hythe story should be taken as gospel, we only have Gaylor's word for that and IMO i reckon it was collar badges which are documented from 1911 onwards.

It is known and documented that collars were used by soldiers during ww1 in place of official badges - For example - (Inniskilling nCO's wearing collar badges as arm badges, see Seaman, arm badge book)


IMO, discerning between a collar badge and a converted collar badge and a privately made badge in hyde to the same pattern would be almost imposssible and as I have said previously I have never seen a real one.

I look forward to any forum member posting a picture of a genuine example.


Noodles.

[tonyb]

Noodles,
Shame have got left hand facing collar badge (lugged).
Is that a picture of Dixie you use?
Best regards Tony.

[GriffMJ]

I dont know if it was the Officers only or the whole Regiment?

c1915-19

[Noodles]

Originally Posted by tonyb

Noodles,
Shame have got left hand facing collar badge (lugged).
Is that a picture of Dixie you use?
Best regards Tony.

Hello tony,

I think your collar is a later version, as I think the ww1 collars were all brass.

And yes - It is Dixie, as you know, the legend. I'm a sth and I must admit that the blues are my first love, though badges are a close second !!!

Noodles.

[Deejayuu]

To the best of my knowledge these unofficial regimental badges were never used as collars or converted from collars. I have a couple i have scanned and show below. They have always been fitted with sliders with no signs of lugs being fitted. Why they are facing opposite direction i do not know.
Cheers, Dave

[GriffMJ]

ahhhh, all brass...... then the one I have shown must be a later collar? Its odd that both examples face either way? The Scots Greys Eagle faces "Right" as you look at it......

[Deejayuu]

Originally Posted by GriffMJ

ahhhh, all brass...... then the one I have shown must be a later collar? Its odd that both examples face either way? The Scots Greys Eagle faces "Right" as you look at it......

Sorry, should have said that the badges are all brass and measure 33mm top to bottom (1 1/4" in old money)

Cheers, Dave

[GriffMJ]

Hi Noodles

Gaylors pictures are so small that its hard to get any detail, but it gives you the impression that its a much smaller badge than the c1948.

Looks like we both got our wish re pics ..... and dimensions (Thanks Dave)