Hybrid badges

[Peter Brydon]

I am in the process of re arranging my collection and in doing this, some queries have cropped up which relate to the use of some badges and raise the question as to if they were genuinely worn items or were put together to fool the collector.

I have a number of items which are best described as hybrids. The first is I believe made up from an officers 2 part pouch badge, the two parts having been joined together and a brooch fitting attached. My theory is that this was made as a brooch for an officers wife.

The second badge seems to be a pre 1926 horse from an officers cap badge to which has been added the scroll from an officers "rose" collar. This badge has lugs ( or at least one remaining lug ) to the rear and I am of the opinion that this has been made as a head dress badge for an officer.

The third badge is more difficult to categorise. Someone has taken the scroll from an other ranks pre 1926 collar badge and to that they have attached the horse from a pre 1926 other ranks cap badge.

The two parts have been joined together most professionally and a new slider has been added, again neatly and professionally done. Is this a badge that has been made up for use in perhaps the field service cap or has it been put together to make use of a couple of broken badges and create something to be sold to the unwary.

Any thoughts or comments appreciated, has anyone anything similar to other regiments ?

P.B.

[Alan O]

Minden militaria attribute a 1896 Dorsetshire cap badge centre with a pin fitting to be a regtl approved modification for the Torin cap.

[KLR]

I suspect that the first two are indeed original (ie not modern "alterations" ) though for what purpose I'm not sure.

As for your third one, I'm pretty sure that it is a bit of modern nonsense !

I have three King's badges that I think are hybrids.
1. variation on the 1896 pattern but with a WM underplate with a GM scroll (ie same construction as the 1926 pattern) This comes with braze holes AND without braze holes. One with provenance in the IWM
2. hybrid between a WM 1896 type horse (distinctly a Firmin type of horse) and a GM scroll with KING'S in gothic (as per 1926). This BM example is exactly the same as what K&K (no 2356) call the 5th Bn '1927' badge (though I think they are wrong and that it (these) are earlier than 1927)
3. Officer's S&G 1926 pattern but the horse is 1926/type 2 on a 1926 type 1 scroll. Provenance from an officer's cap named and dated 1939
(sorry, I don't appear to have reverse views of the last two)

[Keith Blakeman]

A poor bashed up 4th VB The Queen's.