Corporal's Arm Badge

The era of solid metal arm badges for the 14th Hussars began in 1867 when two types were issued by Ordnance. The sergeant's and Warrant Officers wore a sterling silver badge but the corporal's badge was of cheaper quality, called German silver, actually nickel silver. It was worn by corporals and lance-sergeants; lance-corporals did not have the badge. Only the oval back-plate was nickel silver; the Prussian eagle, or hawk, is detachable, and made of silver-plated brass. When issued the eagle would have looked grey because it was oxidised by dipping it in an alkali sulphide solution. This was an unnecessary process because the badge was much polished and the oxidisation, as well as the silver plating was soon worn away so that the appearance was of a yellow metal hawk on a white metal background. Later badges were all white metal. The photo reproduced here was published in Linaker and Dine's book on Cavalry arm badges. The caption says that it is a white metal pre-1914 corporal's badge, 43 mm high by 35.6mm wide. The reverse of the eagle still shows traces of the oxidising process.

Regimental Details | Badges