All brass KSLI badge

[Luke H]

Some years ago I hesitated on the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry badge on the white background as I knew it didn’t exist on the 1916 all Gilding Metal issue list. The badge quickly sold and I regretted it ever since as it looked for all the world to be a good badge.

Recently I was lucky enough to find another which I am equally satisfied is from the same stable and genuine.

One of the things that adds to the intrigue is both badges have scars where loops were originally fitted E-W.

I’m under no illusions and know this is in no way a 1916 all GM issue badge. However I also have no doubts that both are genuine. The all brass Notts & Derby badge springs to mind as being another example of a badge which shouldn’t exist in that form but does.

Do any members have any info or ideas on this badge or when it was worn? From the slider I would expect it to certainty be pre-WW2.

[Phil2M]

Very interesting badges, however, I can not contribute anything to help.

[KLR]

Although the 1916 list has the regular SOMLI badge is listed as BM
but the 4th & 5th Somerset LI Patt No 636/1915 was in GS (aka WM) (and 6k were ordered in April 1916).

If there was an all WM there might be an all GM - I note that the letters are added on, meaning that different metals could be combined in any way..


The only other origin I can think of is c 2nd WW Indian made - though yours looks neatly made - though I'm not dismissing; some are crude but some a re v good.


Apart from that, it could be an unofficial production.

[Chipper]

Hi Luke,

like Phil, I really don't know, but you know, any info is good info..so...

Shropshire had a "pals" formation, (6th Service, or part thereof). It may have been company or even platoon size, I have not gone into it too far as yet - I assumed they wore the standard cap badge, but.....while I think unlikely they had a special cap badge, it does follow a certain logic, especially a GM version.

Maybe someone here who specialises in KSLI has some knowledge out there as to this small formation and can at least discount it.

Cheers, Tim

[Alan O]

[QUOTE=KLR;489677]Although the 1916 list has the regular SOMLI badge is listed as BM
but the 4th & 5th Somerset LI Patt No 636/1915 was in GS (aka WM) (and 6k were ordered in April 1916).


Julian

Are you sure that the Somerset LI badge was authorised for all brass? Both the 1908 4th & 5th Somerset Li and the regular badge was single piece wm not bi-metal.

Alan

[Alan O]

[QUOTE=KLR;489677]Although the 1916 list has the regular SOMLI badge is listed as BM
but the 4th & 5th Somerset LI Patt No 636/1915 was in GS (aka WM) (and 6k were ordered in April 1916).


Julian

Are you sure that the Somerset LI badge was authorised for all brass? Both the 1908 4th & 5th Somerset Li and the regular badge was single piece wm not bi-metal.

The only bi-metal Light Infantry badge produced in all brass was the King's Own Yorkshire LI. KOLYI not KSLI or SLI.
Alan

[KLR]

OK I got confused between Shropshire and Somerset LI !!


BUT even so, No, there was no mention in the WO archives for KSLI in GM = 'gilding metal' (which superseded 'brass' in the 1890s - I have the date somewhere


The WO entry for the SHROPSHIRE lists it as

4638/1898 10,000 Shropshire LI GM & GS


GS = "German Silver" = 'white metal'

[Luke H]

Thanks everyone.

That’s very interesting Tim about the KSLI Pals contingent, I had no idea. Looking forward to seeing all your research. I agree is a certain logic there for sure but I’m not daring to dream that it’s potentially akin to the GM Notts & Derby or ‘Welch’ Regt badges... yet

Cheers Julian, I’m 100% sure it’s British made. The unofficial production I think is the most likely candidate so far seeing as the official records we have don’t support its existence.

The loops I felt may have supported a TF produced badge but why they’ve been professionally removed on both badges and replaced with a shank doesn’t make much sense to me. I did wonder if perhaps there was a BB badge for a certain battalion but both badges show no signs of blacking.

Believe Roy is a specialist Shropshire collector so hopefully he sees this and can chime in.