jocktamson

Its a very nice example of an Officers Shako Patrick, one of the better examples around. I'm glad you managed to snag it before someone else snapped it up.

Excellent...a collection that most museums would kill for. Thanks for posting this.

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Lovely Badge Stuart.... thanks for the close up

Very nice Stuart. Could you post a close up of the badge?

Thanks for the quick reply, i dont know much about RFC stuff at all. Much appreciated.

Cheers Chip....that was quick. I thought the leather epaulette was German because of the button, the others i was guessing maybe French. Your help is appreciated...thanks.

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Another nice acquision Stuart. You'll be saying this is the last Wolsley helmet i buy 5 years from now ;)

Just as an after thought...this style of Shoulder Belt Plate was also used by the various H.L.I. Militia and Volunteer battalions but with a blank scroll without the Assaye Battle honour.

Hi...the Highland Light Infantry SBP does look Victorian. If i am not mistaken the crown is known as the Imperial Crown and was adopted by the HLI in 1881. Queen Victoria was proclaimed Empress of India in 1876. Ive never seen an H.L.I. Shoulder Belt Plate prior to 1902 with the regular Victorian Crown. But in my opinion this is definitely Victorian.

Don't lose any sleep over it Stuart, Ive been collecting Scottish Militaria, Uniforms, Helmets etc for a very long time and i have only ever come across this pattern of helmet once in the past and that was to the Lanarkshire Yeomanry. The Airshire on the helmet plate I would have questioned as well, I have lived 38 miles from Ayrshire my whole life and have never once read, seen or heard of it with the Airshire spelling. I can understand your concerns regarding this helmet, the condition looks too good to be true and anything that's been re-gilded immediately puts me on my guard anyway, I would have put this down as a fake also if i hadn't seen the Lanarkshire Yeomanry helmet in the past. This trend for re-gilding thats sprung up recently with several helmets appearing on eBay from the same couple of sellers makes me very suspicious. Why give yourself the added expense of re-gilding in the first place? an original helmet without the re-gilding usually fetches just as much on eBay anyway, i just don't get it.... as a collector i would rather have an original helmet minus the gilding, than a sparkling bright new helmet that's been re-gilded, but that's a personal choice. Edit: I did a little snooping around and discovered this helmet plate for sale in a Bosley's sale on the 5th March 2007 with the Airshire spelling....a lesson to us all methinks. 92. 1st Airshire Yeomanry OR's helmet plate circa 1817-27. A fine and scarce die-stamped brass example. Star of the Order of the Thistle bearing oval inscribed "1st Airshire Yeomanry". To the centre, St. Andrew and the Cross. Two original lead soldered iron loops to reverse. VGC. (£300 - £400) See "Scottish Regimental Badges 1793-1971" by W & K Bloomer No..257 for voided example. Bosleys Sale March 2007

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I have heard these "pugaree" badges referred to as Adjutants Badges, whether there is any truth in that i really dont know Stuart. However your point makes more sense, why call it a pugaree badge when it actually goes through the helmet, a slider would make more sense. Ive added some more bits and pieces from my collection below.

Thanks for the nice comments and encouragement Mervyn, I'll post some more when i find the photographs of them.

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Very nice Blue Cloth Stuart. Its the first Army Veterinary Department Helmet Plate Ive actually seen a good photograph of, and a Volunteers into the bargain... must be a fairly rare helmet i would think.

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