Undress Sabretache Badge c1830



Front and rear view of a gilt badge. Around the outside is a wreath of roses, thistles and shamrocks to represent the Union. The crown is Georgian and the motto is placed on a scroll below. In the middle is the battle honour EMSDORF. This honour was first mentioned in a Warrant of 1768 and was originally spelt with a double F. The Army Lists show that it was spelt with one F from 1824 to 1889 after which it was changed to EMSDORFF. It was changed back in 1953 to EMSDORF.

I am unsure about what this badge is but I am guessing that it was placed on the plain black leather sabretache worn by officers in undress. However none of the paintings or prints of the period show a badge on the sabretache. WY Carman in his booklet Undress Sabretaches of the British Army published by the Military Historical Society in 2005 states that no ornament has been found for the sabretaches of the 15th. I cannot think of anywhere that this badge would be worn by a hussar regiment other than on the sabretache. The only other explanation is that it was experimental and was rejected.



Regimental details | Badges


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by Stephen Luscombe