Rifle Brigade Busby

[paul w]

Hi guys,can I have some opinions please on this Rifle Brigade Busby on ebay .It looks like an ORs cap rather then an officers but is it pre WW1?Cheers,

Paul

[RMR]

Hi Paul I have one dated 1914 to a Sgt in the Isle of Wight rifles but they were in use before 1914,any name or marks in it? Regards Roger

[leigh kitchen]

It's an Other Ranks sealskin rather than officer's Persian lambskin, I don't know if the insignia is correct for pre WWI, but pre WWI busbies would still presumably be used in the 1970's - 80's if not later. Busbies were still being worn by the Royal Green Jackets & are, presumably by the newer amalgamation The Rifles?
The plume may be the Rifle Brgade green lacking the gilt ring worn part way up, it's hard to tell the colour. It could be an Irish Guards St Patrick's blue bearskin plume?
Looks like it's lacking its chinstrap?

[RMR]

As Leigh states it's an OR's busby and should have a strap, the plume on mine for the I.o.W RIFLES is black their tunics were green here's a pic of my plume.The one on ebay appears to be lacking the knot and ring if it's the correct plume.Regards Roger

[leigh kitchen]

As pointed out elsewhere, the plume should have a long, thin, flat fitting, & not the wire loop that various other plumes & hackles have.

A RB busby on sale at the moment (with a 1914 dated paper label stuck to the inside) has the cord boss as per the one in the photo on this thread, but the bugle mounted on it is blackened & is a stringed bugle similar to the Brtish army Bugler's "trade badge", rather than the whte metal with Guelphic Crown as shown here.

If anyone could give details re. The KRRC version of this busby, its insignia, etc I'd be grateful.

[paul w]

Thanks for the comments Roger and Leigh.The cap on ebay has 'RB' and four digit number beneath it stamped in white and an army contractors address,Hobson and sons? also stamped inside but no date.I thought the rifle brigade plume was green also but I read on a website somewhere that it was black with red/black for KRRC and green/black for Royal Irish Rifles.I've got some illustrations in books showing all these regiments but they're neither large enough or clear enough to make out the colour of the Rifle Brigade plume other then its a dark colour.Can anyone clear that point up?The KRRC had a black boss with maltese cross device on the front of their sealskin caps Leigh,could you let me know the website with the 1914 sealskin cap for sale so I can compare the pics please,cheers again,

Paul

[Old Smelly]

Saw some similar being worn recently by The Rifles mixed buglers, uniforms were basically the same but plumes and badges differed depending on their origins. I have also seen one similar for sale with a two step plume and blackened strung bugle on the boss, dated 1914, described as Light Infantry but not sure if that is correct.
Lee

[RMR]

Here's the boss and badge on mine and mine has a pink paper label inside which reads Hobson and sons London 1914 and thats the only maker I have seen for I of W Rifles busby's.Mine came with a lot of the Sgt's insignia and other military items all named,as stated in an earlier thread the plume attaches with a flat brass strip 2 1/2 inches long by a quarter inch wide I also have the black oilskin plume cover.Roger

[paul w]

Thanks for posting the pics Roger.I believe that the Rifle Brigade had a green cord boss with blackened bugle surmounted by a crown on the front of the sealskin cap with a black plume,the KRRC had a black cord boss with KRRC maltese cross badge on it and a red/black plume.Can anyone out there confirm this or add any further information please? I'm looking to put together a RB or KRRC tunic and head dress display,late Victorian to pre WW1, to go with an Imperial German Jager uniform I have,any help on British Rifle regiment uniform details from the period would be appreciated,cheers,

Paul

[RMR]

Hi Paul here's the insignia that I have,hope it helps .Roger

[RMR]

sleeve badges in silver and gold bullion

[paul w]

Thanks again Roger