Officer's Shabraque Badge

In dress uniform the officers' chargers had an embroidered shabraque which covered the saddle. It was of dark blue cloth edged with a thistle pattern gold lace edge. The front part had the Victorian cypher and guelphic crown and the rear part had the devices seen here. The cypher and badge designs were repeated on both sides of the horse. The majority of the embroidery is gold but there are coloured parts of the crown, especially the orb at the top which is green, and the pearls around the top edge of the crown which are in silver. The Thistle device in the centre of the St Andrew's motto is in silver with colour added to the thistle flower. The two mottoes are on blue padded velvet. This Thistle badge is said to date from 1707 when the Union of England and Scotland took place. This along with the Eagle, and the flaming grenade, are the main badges of the Scots Greys. The shabraque was in use as part of officers' horse furniture up until c1898.

Regimental Details | Badges