Regimental Gold-Pendant Help ID

[Josef Rietveld]

Dear Forumites,

i recently aquired an very small bar with two british regimental pendants.

It is made of Gold and Silver and hallmarked for 375 Gold, Birmingham and the letter N for as i believe 1937.

Makers Mark is J.W.B that stands maybe for James Wiliam Benson?. A company from London.

The left one belongs to the 3rd Carabiniers (former Prince of Wales's Dragoon Guards.

I have no idea abbout the second badge showing the motto of the Order of the garter.

general question: who was wearing such bars? women or men?

are they common? i payed 50 euros for it.

thanks in advance

josef

[Josef Rietveld]

details

[Mike Dwyer]

According to my copy of the 1900 uniform regulations, the second badge is for The Worcestershire Regiment.

[peter monahan]

At a guess, its a woman's brooch for someone who had two sons or a son and a husband or even two brothers serving in the two regiments. A very nice little piece. Pity the story is lost!

Peter

[Mervyn Mitton]

These are ' sweetheart'brooches - made for wives or, girlfriends to wear to show that their loved ones were fighting. The habit of wearing them really started in the Boer War (1900's) and was very popular in both WW1 and WW2. Someone recently showed a diamond studded one (I think it was Chris ?) - these were usually from senior officers. These two are both hallmarked, but troops would often want the best for their women - so, it is not a definite guide that it was from an officer. I posted a board of these badges a little while ago - a very collectable field.

[Josef Rietveld]

@mervyn, peter, Mike

thanks for your explantions. indeed a very collectible field.

another question to the regiments on this brooch (POWDG and Worcestershire Regiment) Are these regiments,

normal regiments, respected regiments or well-respected regiments?

thanks in advance

josef

Edited September 7, 2009 by Josef Rietveld