Imperial Light horse

[Madziro]

Hullo Iain

I believe that they are all Boer War era except for the one (second last) that has a horisontal connecting bar as an integral part of the badge which was worn afterwards as a shoulder title only.

The one where the letters are fixed to a horisontal bar at the back seems to be the same as the one in the photo.

Have attached a cloth title for interest. I am not sure exactly when it was worn and any info would be most welcome.

I have also attached a scan of a few other later badges as well as the horse hair hackle that the ILH wore on the polo helmet in the 1920s / 30s for interest.

[Frank Kelley]

Hello Iain,
One of the joys of being a new member here is looking at old posts, I enjoyed reading this thread, but, do you have a favourite amongst the very many Imperial Light Horse badges that had been worn since 1899?
Regards Frank

Originally Posted by iaindh

Hi All,

its a bit quiet in SA these days but can anyone say for sure what headdress badge were worn by the ILH during the Boer war.
Owen's only starts the crossed flags in 1903 and only shows shoulder titles for the ABW.
The pictures I have in the book "Light Horse Cavalcade" possibly shows the crossed flags on some slouch hats.
On a forage cap, a title being worn; on an Officer's forage cap, what could be a cloth/bullion crossed flags?

Does anyone have anything conclusive?

Iain

[iaindh]

Hi Frank,

one of my favourite units.

ILH set 005.jpg

I don't have a favourite ILH badge, but several!

Alongside the balkie, there are 2 ABW Slouch hat titles. Top left a Volunteer period collar, still need the cap below the balkie is a bi metal version and then of course the ILH*KR title.

Apologies for the quality of the pic. I dont really want to take all the badges off the frame but I'll take an individual badge or 2 if anyone is interested.

regards, Iain

Originally Posted by Frank Kelley

Hello Iain,
One of the joys of being a new member here is looking at old posts, I enjoyed reading this thread, but, do you have a favourite amongst the very many Imperial Light Horse badges that had been worn since 1899?
Regards Frank

[Alex Rice]

Here are a couple more that I like...
Silver officers badge I believe worn unofficially in WWII; Pipers badge and plaid brooch, both modern, so really Light Horse reg, but I like them
Cheers,
Alex

[Frank Kelley]

The large white metal cap badges were actually worn by the rank and file, they were made in Johannesburg during the war, whilst they seldom turn up these days, I believe that their use was quite considerable, they are sometimes described as "unofficial" because of the use of their regiments name on the scroll, in English, rather than the familiar motto, which was always in Latin.
However, this was quite deliberate and "official" despite not conforming to their dress regulations, they saw extensive use in Italy.

Originally Posted by Alex Rice

Here are a couple more that I like...
Silver officers badge I believe worn unofficially in WWII; Pipers badge and plaid brooch, both modern, so really Light Horse reg, but I like them
Cheers,
Alex

[Frank Kelley]

Very nice Iain,
So how often do you buy pieces to this regiment, they just had so much stuff down the years.
Regards Frank

Originally Posted by iaindh

Hi Frank,

one of my favourite units.

Attachment 105608

I don't have a favourite ILH badge, but several!

Alongside the balkie, there are 2 ABW Slouch hat titles. Top left a Volunteer period collar, still need the cap below the balkie is a bi metal version and then of course the ILH*KR title.

Apologies for the quality of the pic. I dont really want to take all the badges off the frame but I'll take an individual badge or 2 if anyone is interested.

regards, Iain

[iaindh]

Alex,

I lust after your plaid brooches! Very nice

regards, Iain

Originally Posted by Alex Rice

Here are a couple more that I like...
Silver officers badge I believe worn unofficially in WWII; Pipers badge and plaid brooch, both modern, so really Light Horse reg, but I like them
Cheers,
Alex

[iaindh]

Hi Frank,

not much different stuff comes up now; just have to keep looking.

regards, Iain

Originally Posted by Frank Kelley

Very nice Iain,
So how often do you buy pieces to this regiment, they just had so much stuff down the years.
Regards Frank

[iaindh]

Hi Dudley,

I see you also have th bi metal cap badge. Do you know anything about it, when it was worn etc?

I like the hackle particularly.

regards, Iain

Originally Posted by Madziro

Hullo Iain

I believe that they are all Boer War era except for the one (second last) that has a horisontal connecting bar as an integral part of the badge which was worn afterwards as a shoulder title only.

The one where the letters are fixed to a horisontal bar at the back seems to be the same as the one in the photo.

Have attached a cloth title for interest. I am not sure exactly when it was worn and any info would be most welcome.

I have also attached a scan of a few other later badges as well as the horse hair hackle that the ILH wore on the polo helmet in the 1920s / 30s for interest.

[Milmed]

Hi Iain,
The bimetal badges can be seen in Colin Owen 620-622. According to a 1940 copy of ILH dress regulations I have the bi-metal badges were to be worn on the blue patrol jacket, on the blue forage cap and on collars of mess dress. Owen says they were officer issue, but I believe whoever wore blue patrols, wore these bi-metal badges. They were probably worn over the period 1913 - 1960 but that needs confirmation.

Also according to same dress regulations. all other forms of dress wer to have gilt (or gilding metal) regimental badges. This was as at publication of regulations in 1940.

Steven

[iaindh]

Hi Steven,

thanks for the information.

My own biM cap badge is the size of O 625 and is chromed although it is ILH and not LHR. It probably does fall under the same regs though.

Iain

Originally Posted by Milmed

Hi Iain,
The bimetal badges can be seen in Colin Owen 620-622. According to a 1940 copy of ILH dress regulations I have the bi-metal badges were to be worn on the blue patrol jacket, on the blue forage cap and on collars of mess dress. Owen says they were officer issue, but I believe whoever wore blue patrols, wore these bi-metal badges. They were probably worn over the period 1913 - 1960 but that needs confirmation.

Also according to same dress regulations. all other forms of dress wer to have gilt (or gilding metal) regimental badges. This was as at publication of regulations in 1940.

Steven

[Alex Rice]

Originally Posted by Frank Kelley

The large white metal cap badges were actually worn by the rank and file, they were made in Johannesburg during the war, whilst they seldom turn up these days, I believe that their use was quite considerable, they are sometimes described as "unofficial" because of the use of their regiments name on the scroll, in English, rather than the familiar motto, which was always in Latin.
However, this was quite deliberate and "official" despite not conforming to their dress regulations, they saw extensive use in Italy.

Hi Frank
Ok, that's interesting. More info to add to the archives. Stuff like that needs to be recorded, so thanks again for the info!
Cheers,
Alex

[Frank Kelley]

Hello Alex,
Has your badge been brooched, looking at your photo it appears to have a silver pin to the reverse, they were made with two little silver wire lugs that were attached to the lower corner of the standard and jack, just above the scroll.
Whilst they certainly would have made a very fine lady's brooch too, I dare say that some might have been worn on the beret with a pin.
Regards Frank

[Alex Rice]

Hi Frank
Yes, it is pinned and I believe the pin is original, there's no evidence of it ever having had anything else. I think this one is silver, not WM.
Cheers,
Alex

[Frank Kelley]

Hello Alex,
Where on the reverse are the hook and hinge, if they are on the lower corner of the standard and jack just above the scroll it would be very difficult to say for sure.
I use the term white metal because the nickel content does not appear to be the same as what I would class as "silver" they are rather similar to the metal used on high quality rank and file badges and plates that were made in the Edwardian period, though, cast rather than struck, but, the lugs were silver wire and you always get the area of the join appearing a little black with oxidization.
The wartime Johannesburg made Witwatersrand Rifles and South African Corps of Signals are exactly the same, with both the metal and lugs used being identical in all respects.
Regards Frank