Highland Light Infantry Officer's OSB Collars for opinions

[Snowdrop 68]

I got these today.

Initially I thought they were 2 unmatched pairs but when I received them I noticed 2 different KC, a QC and 1 what I think maybe QVC.

Can anyone confirm my thoughts please?

Thanks, Bill

[manchesters]

yes, you have 4 different collar badges.

regards

[Snowdrop 68]

Thanks Simon,

Do you know if the 2 without writing on the scroll are different battalions or just a different maker?

Bill

[manchesters]

The blank scroll means they dont have the battle honour so they are Volunteers Bn (For the Flat Top Crown) or VB/Territorial for the KC version.

regards

[Snowdrop 68]

Thanks Simon,

I was kind of thinking that might be the case but always like some clarification.

Regards, Bill

[cbuehler]

Those are all OSD collar badges, the one on the far right being a QC, the others KC and an Empress of India crown, which is early and apparently worn in conjunction with the KC badges. The HLI was one the regiments that utilized this crown, but I don't know when it was adopted nor ceased in wear.

CB

[cbuehler]

Those are all OSD collar badges, the one on the far right being a QC, the others KC and an Empress of India crown on the blank scroll, which is early and apparently worn in conjunction with the KC badges. The HLI was one the regiments that utilized this crown, but I don't know when it was adopted nor ceased in wear.

CB

[Alex Rice]

Doesn't the QVC example pre-date the introduction of OSD badges?
Cheers,
Alex

[cbuehler]

Originally Posted by Alex Rice

Doesn't the QVC example pre-date the introduction of OSD badges?
Cheers,
Alex

That is the India crown mentioned, not QVC. These crowns are a bit of a mystery to me, but as also mentioned, they were apparently worn during the KC period, after 1901.

CB

[Alex Rice]

Oh, ok thanks.

[Snowdrop 68]

Thanks so much for you input. I have never seen the Empress of India style crown before.

Best regards, Bill

[cbuehler]

These flat topped crowns, so call Empress of India, are a bit enigmatic, at least to me. They were worn by several regiments on various forms of badges, and according to a fellow member of this forum, were used on other items such as letter head etc. They are often termed just a flat topped QVC, but this is clearly incorrect as it is a different crown altogether.
They are also thought to have been used only pre 1901, but that is apparently not the case either, although use would seem to have generally ceased not long after.
Also thought to have been unique to regiments that participated in the 1877 Durbar, but I don't know if that is absolute.
This is about the extent of my knowledge in this regard.
CB

[rmarsden]

Quite a few Canadian regts wore that style of crown.
Feather bonnet badge 5th Royal Highlanders Canada 1906 pattern.
Brooker 105-11-39.
Ex H. King collection.

[Luke H]

Originally Posted by cbuehler

That is the India crown mentioned, not QVC. These crowns are a bit of a mystery to me, but as also mentioned, they were apparently worn during the KC period, after 1901.

CB

Not quite correct. It’s the Imperial State Crown.

To my knowledge the crowns used by regular Regiments, Corps and Services of the British Army in the Victorian era were the stylised Saint Edward’s Crown, Guelphic Crown and Imperial State Crown.

From memory the exception being 7th Hussars whose badge sports a Hannoverian crown pre-1901 due to the links to Caroline of Brandenburg-Ansbach who became Queen consort to George II when the regiment took on the ‘Queen’s Own’ title.

From 1902 Sealed Patterns began appearing with the Tudor crown adopted by King Edward VII, the exception being a few Imperial Yeomanry units, this continued of course up to our current monarch when the St. Edward’s crown was again readopted albeit in a less stylised format.

With regards to British regulars regimental cap badges the Imperial State Crown is tantamount to a ‘QVC’ and would not have been made past 1901 except where new Tudor crown (KC) patterns had not been sealed yet. Colonial badges are of course another matter.

As to the badge in question the crown is pre-1901 and the blank scroll for a V.B.. The answer is in Churchill where he states that the new pattern collars (with a Tudor crown) were not sealed until 1905 - very late. Therefore the badge will date 1902-05 which is why it appears in OSD bronze.

This website is useful http://diggerhistory.info/pages-badg...htm#qv-diamond

[Snowdrop 68]

Luke,

that was an extremely useful post, thank you very much.

I had no idea about this version of the crown. The link to digger history page is great, lots of good information.

Thanks again, Bill