Chats on Military Curios

by Stanley C. Johnson

The crest or badge worn by a soldier is probably one of his most cherished possessions, for it is at once the symbol of his regiment and the mascot which urges him on to fame and victory. It is but little wonder, then, that such emblems, so jealously preserved, should prove of deep interest to the collector of military curios.

In our own case, and we suppose it was much the same in those of our readers, army crests fascinated us long before we had a clear perception of what an army really was. In our early school-days, buttons bearing the various regimental devices attracted us; later our collection extended a welcome to cap-badges whilst to-day it contains such treasures as the crests on waist-belts, crossbelt-plates, helmets, collar-plates, and even those on the metal flaps of sabretaches.

A collection of regimental badges should be planned on scientific lines, otherwise the treasured possessions will lose much of their interest. In the first place, the various specimens should be classified: buttons should be arranged in one group, cap-badges in another, belt-plates in another, and so on.

The second grouping should be based upon the standing of the regimental unit. All the buttons worn by the regular army, for instance, should be placed in one sub-division; all those of the territorial army in another; and, as obsolete specimens are still procurable, sub-divisions should be reserved for the volunteer force, the old militia, and special forces which have been raised on special occasions.

Of course the badges should be arranged according to the precedence accorded to the regiments for which they stand; thus, in the case of the regular army, the Household Cavalry should receive priority and be followed by the Dragoon Guards; then the Cavalry of the Line should take third place, whilst the fourth and fifth places should be given to the Royal Artillery and Royal Engineers. The Guards should be placed sixth, and the Infantry of the Line seventh. Badges of each of these divisions should then be arranged according to the seniority of the regiment. The Army List and the chapter on "Regimental Nomenclature" will give valuable help on this point. Finally, where regiments possess various badges for the different companies, these must be arranged in numerical order.

In planning a collection, it is well to remember that badges are constantly changing their patterns, not in fundamental ways, it is true, but in ways which are quite sufficient to add zest to the hobby of collecting. Battle honours, for instance, have been frequently added in the past, whilst many changes are sure to take place in the future, on this score alone, as a result of the great war with Germany. After the Boer War, additions were made to the scrolls which encircle many regimental badges, and the same may be said of the Peninsular, Marlborough's wars, and every great campaign in which the British Army has figured. Thus it is clear that a collection of devices such as we have here in mind is full of interest, not only from the military and antiquarian but also the historical point of view.

BADGE OF THE ROYAL DUBLIN FUSILIERS.

BADGE OF THE ROYAL FUSILIERS (CITY OF LONDON REGIMENT).

BADGE OF THE SEAFORTH HIGHLANDERS (5TH BATTALION).