Military cap badges are the small metal badges worn on the front of a cap or beret. Each regiment and corps had its own design, which is what makes them collectable: the badge tells you exactly which unit the wearer belonged to.
A cap badge was the first thing anyone noticed about a soldier, and men were attached to their own. That is a good part of why people collect them. A badge is the most direct link there is to a particular regiment, and for a lot of buyers to a father or grandfather who served in it, which is why so many collections start with one badge and grow from there.
Most British badges are brass, white metal, or the two combined so that a crest or scroll stands out. Plastic economy badges were issued during the Second World War when metal was needed elsewhere, and those are collected in their own right now.
The back of a badge is worth a look as well. A flat slider fits into a fold in the cap, while a pair of lugs is held in place with a split pin. Most designs carry a motto or a battle honour, usually in Latin.
British regiments were merged and renamed repeatedly, particularly after the reforms of 1881 and again through the 1960s, so a good number of badges belong to units that no longer exist. Collections tend to be built up by county regiment, by corps, or around a family connection.
We add badges as we find them, so it is worth checking back if nothing here suits.
