Sabretache 1856



This sabretache poses a problem as it only shows the four Crimean battle honours: ALMA and BALAKLAVA on the left, and INKERMAN and SEVASTOPOL on the right. These honours were awarded on 16th October 1855 and the regiment did not sail home from the Crimea until April 1856. They left England again in May 1857 to go to India. Little time was left for this design to come into effect. It may still have been in production, so to speak, as the regiment sailed off to the Indian Mutiny. But by 1861 the 8th had earned the battle honour Central India. The 1861-70 sabretache not only includes the new Central India honour but also the old battle honours of Leswarree and Hindoostan. When the regiment returned from India and arrived in England in May 1864 this sabretache would have been out of date. The other explanation is that this item was embroidered in India between 1857 and 1861.


Regimental details | Sabretaches


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by Stephen Luscombe