Officer’s Breastplate Badge 1901

Several parts of the officer’s tack were ornamented with regimental devices.This is a breastplate badge which was mounted on a leather backing in the centre of the charger’s chest. There were similar ornaments on either side of the bit, and ear bosses on each side of the horse’s head, but without the crown. Stirrup slides had a Prince of Wales Plume badge. The example here is post-1901 indicated by the King’s crown. The badge worn during Queen Victoria’s reign had a Guelphic crown. The Victorian version also had the title PRINCE OF WALES’S OWN HUSSARS whereas this pattern dispensed with the apostrophe S. A later breastplate badge, with a King’s Crown, includes the word ROYAL in the title, and to fit this in there was no buckle and hanging strap to the garter.

Regimental Details | Badges