KING'S OWN SHROPSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY

[YeoHelmetGuy]

Hello Collectors,

Just arrived into my collection from the United Kingdom, a Victorian officer's home service helmet plate to the King's Shropshire Light Infantry...

Helmet plate attributed to an officer of the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry worn briefly in 1881. The King’s Shropshire Light Infantry was formed by the amalgamation 53rd Shropshire Regiment and the 85th The King’s Light Infantry. The helmet plate consists of a gilt universal pattern star plate the upper most rays being displaced by a Victorian crown. On the universal star plate is mounted a wreath of laurel leaves and within the wreath the garter strap inscribed “HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE” all in gilt and within the garter strap, in silver mounted on a deep green velvet background a strung bugle horn. Within the strings/ribbon of the bugle horn the initials “KLI” in gilt. Below the motto and garter is a silver universal regimental tile scroll that was inscribed “King’s Shropshire Lt. Infty”. In the case of this plate the regimental title scroll is the per-1883 pattern inscribed “The Shropshire Regiment”. Kipling & King in Volume One, Head-Dress Badges of the British Army, page 113 notes that the 53rd Regiment carried a universal title scroll inscribed “The Shropshire Regiment” on their helmet plates. One could surmise one of two things: (a) that this is a transitional plate, or (b) that officer who wore/owned this helmet plate began service with the 53rd "The Shropshire Regiment” and upon amalgamation with the 85th Regiment that form the new King’s Shropshire Light Infantry instead of procuring a new helmet plate when the new strung bugle horn central device was adopted, simply replaced the numerals “53” with the new strung bugle horn device.

Cheers,

David

[mtrpltpara]

Lovely Plate indeed.
Regards,
Bill.

[YeoHelmetGuy]

Originally Posted by mtrpltpara

Lovely Plate indeed.
Regards,
Bill.

Hello Bill,

THANK YOU!! I was very excited to find it and then, of course, to acquire it and add it to my collection! As well, thank you for taking time to look at this post and pass on your very generous remarks, very much appreciated!

Cheers,

David

[Wmr-RHB]

Again a wonderful item.

But allow me to make some corrections to the regimental titles. It is rather confusing, but the main element is: the word Own was never part of any of the designations of this regiment.

• The Childers reforms in 1881 first named the regiment The Shropshire Regiment (King's Light Infantry), but this was changed after two months (and thus never used in reality) in The King's Light Infantry (Shropshire Regiment).
• Already in 1882 redesignated intoThe King's (Shropshire Light Infantry). So this is the title to be connected to your helmet plate.
• In 1920 the title changed into The King's Shropshire Light Infantry (still without Own) and this is the name most people will use to reference the regiment (or for short: KSLI).
• Merged as 3rd Battalion, The Light Infantry into that new regiment in 1968.
• Renumbered 2nd Battalion, The Light infantry in 1993.
• In 2007 a new merger made it 3rd Battalion, The Rifles.

[YeoHelmetGuy]

Originally Posted by Wmr-RHB

Again a wonderful item.

But allow me to make some corrections to the regimental titles. It is rather confusing, but the main element is: the word Own was never part of any of the designations of this regiment.

• The Childers reforms in 1881 first named the regiment The Shropshire Regiment (King's Light Infantry), but this was changed after two months (and thus never used in reality) in The King's Light Infantry (Shropshire Regiment).
• Already in 1882 redesignated intoThe King's (Shropshire Light Infantry). So this is the title to be connected to your helmet plate.
• In 1920 the title changed into The King's Shropshire Light Infantry (still without Own) and this is the name most people will use to reference the regiment (or for short: KSLI).
• Merged as 3rd Battalion, The Light Infantry into that new regiment in 1968.
• Renumbered 2nd Battalion, The Light infantry in 1993.
• In 2007 a new merger made it 3rd Battalion, The Rifles.

Hello Henk,

Once again, thank you for your very kind comment and for taking time to look at this home service helmet plate post... much appreciated! As well thank you for the very useful and insightful information concerning linage... always a "gold mine" of shared knowledge!

Cheers,

David