13IY - Boer War Slouch Hat Badge

[Roy]

Hi Gents,

In regards this new addition of mine, at some point it will be part of a larger display. I have noticed some nice aged rosettes available on ebay and know a few members have purchased examples as gap fillers or to help with display.

My question is, if I decided to go that route would it be correct to have this badge on a rosette? If so I think it would be a nice way to display it but I really don't have much knowledge with IY and Boer War badges, so want o make sure there is some logic there before spending any money.

Cheers, Roy.

[GriffMJ]

Roy those repro IY rosettes are very good...... so good infact I have written "REPRO" on the back of the one I purchased with a Sharpie. I have the genuine article as well as a standard IY but I purchased the repro for a brass 7 the the first Leics Yeo sponsored Coy in the 4th Btn IY.

[Roy]

Hi Griff,

Thanks for that, good to know. Do you think it would be a technically correct 'good fit' for my badge?

Cheers, Roy.

[Rob Miller]

I bought one of the "non aged" replicas for a display I'm planning, they wouldn't have looked 100 years old during the Boer War so it seemed more honest to me.

Rob

[Peter Brydon]

There was a series of articles called "Regimental Patches Worn during the South African War 1899-1902 " by Ron Kidd in The Formation Sign the journal of the Military Heraldry Society. These appeared around 2005 and I thought that was at least one article about the badges worn by the Imperial Yeomanry.

I am still trying to find the article (s ) on the I.Y but if any other member knows if it included the insignia worn by the 13th I.Y. it might help me to decide if it is worth continuing my search.

Thanks

P.B.

[Roy]

Hi Gents,

I just wanted to double check - if I purchase one of the reproduction rosettes mentioned earlier to display and mound the badge that started this thread, would that be considered 'correct or acceptable'..?

Cheers, Roy.

[Peter Brydon]

Roy,

I think the answer is, if you would be happy, that is all that matters.

I always think that when members ask for opinions of the authenticity of an item and those opinions differ then it comes down to how the member feels about the item and if he is happy to keep it as part of his collection.

Peter

[Roy]

Hello Peter,

Thank you for that, makes perfect sense. Some of these topics can be a little vague but opinions are always appreciated.

Cheers, Roy.

[R.J. Bradshaw]

I know that quite a few of those units who diddnt have the standard POW feathers and IY badges on a rosette, had their insignia made whilst in S.A. some of which involved the slouch hat badge and shoulder title being either very similar or indeed the same.

Some are just numbers attached to IY letters but others like 3rd Battalion I Y 26th (Younghusband's Horse) Battalion Imperial Yeomanry had a badge with that name and a minature horse made from sheet brass. The Rough Riders and Scottish Horse had similar, hand-cut from sheet brass.

The main problem for collectors of I.Y. nowadays however are those replica rosettes from WarHats (on eBay etc), which are OK as replacements to display badges on, but the problem arises when dodgy dealers attach Victorian numerals from such as the 7th Dragoon Guards, to become the 7th Leicestershire Coy I.Y. and charge three-figures as if for the genuine article; yet who alive today could really argue as apart from the rosette, which are mixed polyester while the genuine ones were a mix of silk/cotton this may well be how some of the IY badges originated especially for the first contingents, who were dispatched rather hurriedly with no official insignia aside from the standard IY rosette etc.

Yet again, along with the restrike problem from the 1970's onward, which I researched in great detail whilst at University, its the age old adage of Caveat Emptor!

[nma]

Sorry to dig up such an old topic. I have recently purchased a sheet brass title, being "12IY" to go with my South Notts Hussars collection. It is interesting, if not concerning, that there is some debate as to whether these numbers followed by IY relate to a Company, or a Battalion. If it's the latter, then the title I have purchased has nothing to do with the SNH.

I have noticed a sold item on Mr Newman's site which would suggest that they do refer to company numbers, in as much as it is a sheet brass with wire loop title as "69IY". As best as I can tell, there were 160 Companies, and just 36 Battalion's. Has anyone since the original post found out any more information on this question. I suppose*what I really want to know is, do I have a nice SNH Boer war item, or not.*

Thanks,*
Andrew

[Wmr-RHB]

Originally Posted by nma

I have noticed a sold item on Mr Newman's site which would suggest that they do refer to company numbers, in as much as it is a sheet brass with wire loop title as "69IY". As best as I can tell, there were 160 Companies, and just 36 Battalion's. Has anyone since the original post found out any more information on this question. I suppose*what I really want to know is, do I have a nice SNH Boer war item, or not.*

Thanks,*
Andrew

For the list I compiled from several sources see: The Companies of the Imperial Yeomanry during the Second Boer War

It shows company numbers going up to 177 and battalion numbers to 39.

[nma]

Hello Henk,

I had a look at your excellent research site, thank you. Very useful quick reference, I like how you have displayed the badge, uniform and then research time-line.

Andrew

[nma]

Hello, I was wondering if anyone had come up with any opion on these Boer-War slouch hat / shouder badges. As mentioned before, I purchased 12IY to go with my South Notts Hussars collection, but some are of the opinion that these numbered IY badges refer to the Battalion number, not company number.

If so, then I have a badge I do not need,, so that said, please see the images of one numbered 69IY. As Wmr-RHB states, there were 39 battalions. Would this suggest that these numbered IY badges must therefore refer to companies, not Batts ?, therefore my badge also shown must be S.N.H.? Any help would be greatly apretiated.

[mooke07]

I cannot add to this thread in a definitive way to address your specific question but in a selection of badges collected and framed by an Australian in the Victorian Mounted Rifles during the Second Boer War there is a 69IY badge as separate letters and numerals to compare styles with your own. See the following album, cheers Dean

https://www.britishbadgeforum.com/fo...hp?albumid=416

[R.J. Bradshaw]

Yes, nice piece and "Theatre Made" by the looks of it. I specialise in I.Y. badges from units that fought in the Boer War and have one or two of these sheet brass badges. Getting harder and harder to find these days and very expensive when you do.