Mystery badge from WW1 collection?

[3903]

I acquired this (cap?) badge as part of a collection built during WW1 by a serviceman who apparently won badges in card games.

Appreciate any thoughts on its origin, I suspect it could be Canadian, given the source of the collection?

[Alan O]

I don't recognise it as British although there is a similarity in design to the 7th Battalion the London Regiment.

[CAM]

Ditto.

Chris

QUOTE=Alan O;494840]I don't recognise it as British although there is a similarity in design to the 7th Battalion the London Regiment.[/QUOTE]

[Dan M]

Originally Posted by 3903

I acquired this (cap?) badge as part of a collection built during WW1 by a serviceman who apparently won badges in card games.

Appreciate any thoughts on its origin, I suspect it could be Canadian, given the source of the collection?

I'm confident in saying it's a Canadian badge, but not CEF. I also can't say whether it's cap or collar.

The 7th Regiment of the Canadian Militia was stationed in London, Ontario, along the local version of the river Thames. The regiment styled itself after the Royal Fusiliers, the regiment from that other London. They were the Canadian Fusiliers right up until the 50's when they rebadged to become 4th Bn, The Royal Canadian Regiment. Which was, incidentally, the Regiment into which I was commissioned.

Should you want more information, check out The Regimental Rogue run by Michael O'Leary. He's the most knowledgeable person about the RCR and its antecedents online of which I'm aware.

Cheers,
Dan.

[Dan M]

Originally Posted by Alan O

I don't recognise it as British although there is a similarity in design to the 7th Battalion the London Regiment.

Very, very similar. Slight difference in the how the flames are depicted and the font of the '7,' but I'll defer to the experts.

Cheers,
Dan.

[Sock Monkey VC]

God Almighty I never thought I would identify a badge on this forum before someone else got it but I think I may have found it for you. Daniel Mazeas book Canadian badges, pre-CEF, page 69, 7th Fusiliers. Now notice these 7's have a fat ass on them but your's is certainly barking up the right tree. H think this may be it.

Monkey

[3903]

I can see a similarity to images of the 7th Regiment of the Canadian Militia online (and can also see how the badge echos the British London Regiment's 7th battalion).

It's a cast (rather than stamped) badge and the numeral is secured via a small tab bent over inside the grenade -which I have noticed on a number of other Canadian badges of the early-mid 20th century.

It may be a collar dog, since the cap badge appears to include a wreath.

Thank you all for your thoughts and insights.

[Sock Monkey VC]

I seem to remember that Mazeas books are drawn to scale. What is the exact length of your badge in mm.? I can compare it for you.

Monkey

[3903]

Hello Monkey,

That's a very kind offer - I have posted an image of the badge length and also one showing the thickness of the cast and the cast attachment lugs.

Cheers,
3903

[Sock Monkey VC]

Righto, in the Mazeas book the upper cap badge is 50mm tall and in the lower set of badges it is 55mm. You're very close to the 2nd set. 5mm out though. I wouldn't write off the Canadian option yet, still, not having had much experience with pre-CEF Canadian badges (which nearly always meant British manufacture) your badge is a little rough and looks perhaps more like and Indian badge or some such colonial concoction.

Monkey

[3903]

Thanks, let me explore the Indian angle...I agree it looks as if it has been somewhat crudely cast and simply constructed.

3903