Michael NA

As a follow up, I was advised that in the 1950s or early 60s a box containing about two dozen of these badges were located in the Scots Grey Band Store. It was later determined that they had originally been made to fit on the front of bearskin caps, presumably in the late 1850s, but it was not certain whether they were for the Band or for all members of the regiment. Apparently, the badges had been fitted to the Bandsmen?s music-pouches but it is uncertain when this happened or when they were removed. I asked a friend who collects and researches sporrans among many other military items about whether my example was perhaps a pouch type badge. He stated that the reverse "croquet hoop" fittings were definitely head dress mountings and that pouch fittings would have been short screws with nuts. So, it appears that the badge is 2nd Dragoons (Scots Grey) for the Bearskin and although authorized for use in the 1850s to 1890s, it might have seen little actual use on Bearskins. The search is to now locate a period image of the Bearskin with the badge. Michael

CVD image 1863 of an officer of the 2nd Dragoon Guards.

Attached is an image of a Scots Grey showing the Bearskin with the plume holder type badge.

Thank you Stuart. I will pm you about the address. In the interim, I will try to find an original cvd or cabinet card and will contact the regimental museum. I have been trying to pickup full uniform images and attach one of the 12th Lancers.

Stuart: Thank you for the follow up comments. What makes this interesting is that the thistle appears to be incorporated in several different badges. The badge of the Royal Scots. for example, has the thistle as a theme. See the attached two piece badge. I am trying to locate a cdv or cabinet card of a Scots Grey officer wearing the bearskin with the badge. Michael

Stuart: It appears you have solved this puzzle and have vindicated my friend who was insisting this was the bearskin badge of the 2nd Dragoons. He was offering this as I was looking to display a badge with a medal group from the period (1850-1870s). The badge and the thistle in the centre of the current standard appear to be the same. Thank you very much for all your time and effort. Michael

Thank you Stuart. This one is turning out to be a little more difficult then I thought it would be. I am trying to find an image of the Scots Grey's regimental guidon from the post-Waterloo era as I was told the thistle is one of the design features. Michael

Stuart: Very nice helmet display. Not to suggest that swords or longarms are less impressive, but I can see how one of these would be a highlight of a display. Do you have to look to the UK for the early items? Michael

Stuart: Thank you for your comments. I have attached scans of the plume holder badge that you mention as well as the back badge from a dealer's site. I have also seen the Eagle with Waterloo badge. In speaking to a long-time collector, he noted that this version of the bearskin badge was a rare variety and as he has collected the other highland regiments for many years. As you note, however, the thistle is a common theme in many of their badges. Being as large as it is, I am not sure if it could fit on a bonnet of a Cameron or Seaforth Highlander. Possible for the sporran. I will double check again and perhaps see if I get some comments from a curator from one of the museums that would have items to the regiment. Again, thank you for you comments and the links. Michael

Thank you Barry for the site reference and your help on this one. I have sent the question along to the curator of the Royal Scot Dragoons Museum and hopefully they will respond and advise if they have this badge in their collection as well as provide a date of use. Michael

Barry: Thank you for providing the print. It is a good example, but much later in time (I am guessing post WWI). Assuming the artist is not "adding" to the image, if there is a medal depicted, there might be only one - for Waterloo. I am guessing that the bearskin came about as a result of Waterloo and that it came in use shortly after 1815. The badge in question is harder to pin down. Again, thank you for your comments. Michael

Following up on Tony's comment, I see that if he stayed in the 18th, this likely was his only medal entitlement. I checked my copy of Balmer's Regimental Medals and there is nothing for Pollard under the known examples at the time to the 18th Foot. Let us know how this story ends. Michael

Brian: I would obtain his service records to confirm he was issued a Long Service. As noted, it would not be the first time a medal was lost and another was "named" up to replace it. Michael

Does anyone have any prints or engravings showing the bearskin worn by the Scots Grey after Waterloo. In particular, I am trying to determine when a certain badge was worn on the bearskin. I have attached an image that does not show the badge in question but am not sure how accurate it is (although the Waterloo medal has been incorporated in the image). Thank you for any comments. Michael

Brian: As noted by Tony, William IV and early Victorian issues to 1854 were impressed in the style of the Waterloo. Your photos do not show this type of naming on your medal. Michael

I am a new member and have an interest in British Victorian campaign medals and images (cdvs, cabinet cards). I look forward to going through many of the topics on this forum and contributing if and when I can. Recently, I have taken to putting some badges with other items to create a small display that might further illustrate the regiment. In looking at the 2nd Dragoons (Scots Grey), I came across this badge, which was described as being for use after Waterloo. It is about 3 inches by 3 inches. Can anyone comment on whether this is a badge used by the 2nd Dragoons and, if so, during what period. Thank you. Michael NA