Officer's Helmet Plate 1902

The universal pattern helmet plate had the silver dragon on black velvet in the middle. The basic design of this plate was worn when the home service dress helmet replaced the shako in 1878. The plate at that time had the Queen Victoria crown and no silver scrolls, but the silver dragon in the centre had the number 3 underneath. From 1881 the 3 was removed and the three part scroll on the lower part of the wreath had THE EAST KENT REGIMENT. Some time before 1900 another silver scroll with the words THE BUFFS was placed just below the Queen's crown. This design continued after 1902 with the King's Crown replacing Victoria's. Other ranks had a plainer all-brass version without silver scrolls and with EAST KENT in the circle around the dragon.