Cavalry regts wearing brodricks.

[Alan O]

I have been looking into cavalry headdress circa 1902-10 and often only officers (and sometimes bandsman) wore peaked caps in the first decade of the C20th century as many cavalry regts continued to wear badgeless pill box caps even after they were supposed to have ceased wearing them c.1903.

However as ever there were some Cavalry regts who did adopt the Brodrick cap.

Can any one provide photographic evidence of cavalry regts wearing the Brodrick?

I will start with 13th and the 17th Lancers dating from 1903/4.

(courtesy of IBEW and GWF respectively)

The QDG website records the wearing of the cap by the KDG from 1903 and the 2 DG (The Bays) from 1908.

'In 1903 the KDG were issued with the much-disliked Broderick cap, and the much-prized Victorian pill-box forage cap was discontinued. The Broderick cap was of blue cloth, round in shape with a projecting rim, but with no peak; it was worn with a chinstrap, and the metal regimental badge of the Austrian double-headed eagle on a red background in the centre at the front. On their return to England in 1908 the Bays were issued with a blue Broderick cap, with the regimental badge on a white patch at the front - the patch later being changed to light buff.' http://www.qdg.org.uk/pages/Uniform-1843-Onwards-81.php

The wearing of Brodrick was by no means universal and generally confined to the UK (although I believe that it may have made it to some Infantry in South Africa from at least one set of photos). Officers, SNCOs and sometimes bandsmen wore peaked caps even before the change over by the rest of the ORs circa 1906. Also those regts in India etc wore the Indian pattern side cap.

[GriffMJ]

http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...p?albumid=2081

[Alan O]

Thanks so also photos for the

11th Hussars.
21st Lancers.

Alan

[Robthereiver]

Hello

Another Brodrick in wear.

I suspect more Cavalry Regiments than we might think wore the Brodrick Cap as much as it was disliked. Its just a case of finding the photo's.

Good idea this thread Alan, maybe it will shed more light on this subject.

Regards
Rob

[mac mcconnell]

Theres a couple of pictures of 21st Lancers in the Regiment Magazine (Lancer special addition) issue 47 wearing it.

Mac

[GriffMJ]

Originally Posted by Robthereiver

Hello

Another Brodrick in wear.

I suspect more Cavalry Regiments than we might think wore the Brodrick Cap as much as it was disliked. Its just a case of finding the photo's.

Good idea this thread Alan, maybe it will shed more light on this subject.

Regards
Rob

I suspect that image to be an infanteer and not 17th Lancer Rob.... I too initially thought it was the 17th ...but I now think its "Mounted Infantry".... not true Cavalry.

[Robthereiver]

Originally Posted by GriffMJ

I suspect that image to be an infanteer and not 17th Lancer Rob.... I too initially thought it was the 17th ...but I now think its "Mounted Infantry".... not true Cavalry.

You are quite right its certainly not 17L Griff , its 2nd Dragoons RSG (as I posted).
A lcpl in khaki, probably in Egypt or South Africa, mounted on his splendid Grey Troop horse, wearing a Brodrick with his Eagle and scroll Cap Badge in place.
You are quite entitled to your opinion of it being 'Mounted Infantry' of course, but I think if you, with your specialist skills, investigate this photo properly you will find it ain't. IMHO its Cav!

I also believe this image is in a reference book somewhere but I can't recall which one, when or if I do I will clarify.

Cheers
Rob

[Paul Spellman]

Originally Posted by Robthereiver

Hello

Another Brodrick in wear.

I suspect more Cavalry Regiments than we might think wore the Brodrick Cap as much as it was disliked. Its just a case of finding the photo's.

Good idea this thread Alan, maybe it will shed more light on this subject.

Regards
Rob

Could his Cap Badge be Somerset Light Infantry ???
Paul

[wardog]

I think Yeomanry carried the rifle that way pre Great War. I don't know if mounted infantry did. He has though his putties wound the infantry way. No sign of sword scabbard showing under the horse, though I think Yeomanry were trained to fight on foot pre war. Regards, Paul.

[Frank Kelley]

I would be very surprised indeed, if that fellow was a member of a cavalry regiment.

Originally Posted by Robthereiver

Hello

Another Brodrick in wear.

I suspect more Cavalry Regiments than we might think wore the Brodrick Cap as much as it was disliked. Its just a case of finding the photo's.

Good idea this thread Alan, maybe it will shed more light on this subject.

Regards
Rob

[Robthereiver]

Hello Frank

As you will see if you read Post #14 I did feel I'd 'shot myself in the foot' using that image as an example of a 2D Brodrick cap in wear, and having research the matter further I too think its more likely to be a Mounted Infantry man.
Never the less there are quite a number of 2D photo's in circulation showing individuals wearing Brodricks. There is a very good one in Peter Seaman's Book - Cavalry Arm Badges.

Regards
Rob

Originally Posted by Frank Kelley

I would be very surprised indeed, if that fellow was a member of a cavalry regiment.