First Hussars

[Bill A]

How do we date the First Hussars cap badges? I have been told that the wreath of leaves is an indication of the era. The wreath, if it touches the coronet, makes the badge a CEF era badge. Mazeas Pre-1914 shows a gap between the coronet and leaves, Charlton shows no gap, Mazeas 20-50 shows a badge with a gap, and Tripp also shows the badge with the gap. Our 20-50 badge registry shows no gap.
Can the evolution of this badge be clarified?

[Doug N]

The CEF badges were made in England by Gaunt & Tiptaft. These feature a wreath where the maple leafs slightly overlap - the so called 'narrow' wreath. Post WW1 badges made in Canada have adjasent leafs side by side - resulting in the so called 'wide' wreath. The difference is subtle, but you can see what I'm on about by looking at the scan.

I don't know the date when these Canadian made OR badges were introduced, but I'd guess it was early in the militia period. I'd consider the wide wreath OR badge shown in the badge registry to be the 'correct' WW2 pattern.

Gaunt continued to produce private purchase officers badges through WW2, & several variants of these can be found. You can also find narrow wreath OR's badges marked J.R.GAUNT LONDON. I 'm pretty sure these are modern restrikes.

[WJ Miller]

Nice cap badges Doug!

Are there matching bi-metal collars for this type of Officer's badge? I've only ever seen brass collars. That leads me to ask if any 1H insignia in OSD bronze exists??

[Michael Reintjes]

here are some WW2 or earlier Officers styles...the Marked badge and collars are Gaunt...they are not Bi Metal but frosted gold. the Embroidered badge is by Hobson and is worn only on the Coloured FSC.They were made fairly early in the war after the units arrival in England.

[Michael Reintjes]

[Michael Reintjes]