cbuehler

The cap is not an OR's issue, but an officers private purchase (as they all were) example. The badge is an officers silver example as well. This means it could also have been worn by the WO or RSM. The cap without doubt dates at the earliest from the late 20's, but more likely closer to the beginning of ww2. After that point, officer service dress caps began to change to the slack crown style with the underside of the visor covered in cloth. Please note that this is a generalization and stiff crowns with green board visors were made during ww2 as well, and cloth visor undersides were sometimes encountered in earlier period caps. A very good buy for 45 Pounds indeed! CB

Hello Shams, Rank insignia is not worn on the collar in the British Army, but on the sleeves by Other Ranks and on the shoulder by officers. CB

Unfortunately I cant make it out precisely, but it does look like the cap badge for the 18th QMO Hussars. I believe one or two of the Yeomanry regiments has a similar design. CB

Thanks much everyone, There is a pic I managed to get on the British Military Badge forum under the Its a mystery unidentified heading. I could not upload it on this forum. It is very similar to the E. Surrey Regt., but theirs does not have the red piping all around the curtain and I doubt they would have used gosling green. I too have an officers Torin cap just like that pictured, thus am able to confirm that the small peak colour is indeed gosling green. The cap is not Canadian as it has British general service buttons and no Canadian markings. This cap is truly a mystery so far! CB

All, I tried to post a photo of a coloured field service cap I recently aquired, but failed. It has a dark blue body with red piping around the crown and all the way around the curtain. The small inverted V shaped peak above the buttons in front is Gosling green. The reference book shows the Northumberland Fus. as all khaki. Is what I have version from a different period? I am not aware of any other regiment that uses Gosling green? Thanks, CB

Another marvelous write up! I might add that Silberston and Sons were a long time military outfitter firm on Cambridge Heath Rd. I understand that they had close connections with the Household Brigade. CB

Thanks all! TS, this is the exact type I was referring to. Yours is marked to the the regiment (it may be the 1st Royal Dragoons and not the 1st DG) and they used dark blue tabs. Mine is the same, but with plain collar. I now believe it to possibly be for the 3rd Dragoon Gds. ? I had thought that perhaps these frocks were issued without tabs and they were subsequently added by regiments that used them, but it now looks like they were produced specifically for the regiments. CB

Thanks much Graham, I believe shoulder chains to have been worn on regular cavalry frocks as well. I have a red serge example with label stating "cavalry, red FK" without chains and it has a red collar as the body of the frock. I presume it to have been intended for one or more of the Dragoon Guards regiments, but which ones? CB

Hello all! This being my first post, I am starting of with a query for the uniform experts. Can anyone provide some info or pics showing the red Cavalry serge frock as worn from approx. 1900 to 1914. These were four pocket, some having shoulder chains, some plain shoulder straps. Most that I have seen have seen had no collar facings other than red, but apparently some regiments (dragoons?) had collars with facing colors that were similar to pointed staff tabs. Additionally, some regiments wore collar dogs, some without. Photos seem to be scarce and show considerable differences in detail depending upon regiment or exact period. Any more info would be much appreciated. Thanks! CB