Scots Guards/Royal Scots Officers Cap Star.

[thursdaychris]

A new addition to the KC infantry officers collection.

[Alex Rice]

Lovely! One of my favourite badges and maker as well! Jennens badges are always top quality. I also like that it is pre-the change in pattern of RS officer badge, so could easily be to either Regiment.
Cheers,
Alex

[thursdaychris]

Many thanks, Alex, I had only recently discovered that the RS and SG wore the same cap star prior to 1931. This did give me another addition for the collection that was actually available, unlike some of the others that remain on the wants list.

[thursdaychris]

I have recently found a small companion for the pair of Royal Scots badges that start off my officers cap badge collection. The eBay seller that it came from, described it as a sweetheart badge, and I'm very pleased to say that I managed to get it for that kind of price. It is a tiny little thing and is what would usually be described as an FSC badge, I believe, K&K say that it's for the Officers Service-dress cap (Fig 910)

[Alex Rice]

Hi Chris
Here you may need somebody more knowledgeable than myself to comment. I am not sure if the RS wore these small badges, I've never seen a comment or post to support that so it would be interesting to find out. The Scots Guards certainly wore them, but just not sure of the RS.
Cheers,
Alex

[thursdaychris]

Hello Alex, These are mentioned in Churchill's Royal Scots section along with the silver/gilt and bronze collar badges.

[grenadierguardsman]

Originally Posted by Alex Rice

Hi Chris
Here you may need somebody more knowledgeable than myself to comment. I am not sure if the RS wore these small badges, I've never seen a comment or post to support that so it would be interesting to find out. The Scots Guards certainly wore them, but just not sure of the RS.
Cheers,
Alex

Yes Alex, I thought that too ?
Andy

[Alex Rice]

Originally Posted by thursdaychris

Hello Alex, These are mentioned in Churchill's Royal Scots section along with the silver/gilt and bronze collar badges.

Hi Chris
I don't have Churchill's and don't know much about collar badges, but I meant as a cap badge.
Cheers,
Alex

[thursdaychris]

Yes, so did I, Churchill does sometimes mention cap badges when the collars are the same.

[Alex Rice]

Thanks Chris
That's something new I have learnt.
Cheers,
Alex

[Bill]

The early stars, pre WW1 and possibly during the war, were, I think, different from those that came later. The tips are made up of five diamond cuts not three, making them more pointed in appearance. I have examples that are both hallmarked and initialled. IWM photographs of officers of WW1 show these in wear. I'm not sure when the shorter point stars were issued and whether to both regiments. Private purchase might also come into play.

I always thought the small OSD badge was SG only?

Bill

[Bill]

Two photographs added.
Hallmark 1906.
There is a story behind its original owner.

Bill

[Alex Rice]

Hi Bill
Lovely badge.
I think perhaps that is just a maker's variation as I have an early hallmarked example, 1898 i think, which has the 3 diamond-cut tips to the star, not 5.
Cheers,
Alex

[Bill]

Hi Alex
An interesting star. The straight lines on the the St Andrew's cross are missing and, as you say, an early version - or possibly Royal Scots?
For the Royal Scots, the 1900 Dress Regs describe the St Andrew star but show the other ranks badge.
This is corrected in the 1904 Officers' Dress Regs but the two patterns are very different.
I don't think the regiments would be happy to share the same design!
What do you think?
Bill

[Alex Rice]

Hi Bill
Yes, the RS & SG officers did wear the same pattern up to 1930 until an application was made to change it, so I will unfortunately never know which regiment this one came from.
Attached and article describing the change of pattern for RS badges.
Cheers,
Alex