King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry - Badge Variations.

[leigh kitchen]

The King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry was formed in 1881 by amalgamation of the 51<SUP>st</SUP> Foot & the 105<SUP>th</SUP> Foot.

Originally titled the South Yorkshire Regiment (King’s Own Light Infantry) later that year they were renamed The King’s Own Light Infantry (South Yorkshire Regiment), later named the King’s Own (Yorkshire Light Infantry ), and in 1920 they became The King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry.

In 1958 the KOYLI joined the Light Infantry Brigade & wore the brigade’s cap badge, later being amalgamated with other light infantry regiments into a new regiment named "The Light Infantry".

The regiment wore as a cap badge a French horn with a rose (representing the white rose of Yorkshire) in its centre.

The bugle was in gilding metal, the rose in white metal, later changing to a badge entirely of white metal, and ultimately a silver anodised version.

in its centre, about 19 mm high by about 33 mm wide.

According to Kipling & King a larger version of the bi-metal badge, twice its size, was worn on a particular form of headgear, the "Smasher hat", according to Gaylor it was worn as a the pagri.

During WWI an all brass economy version was produced, & during WWII a plastic economy version.

Badges in my collection:

Left is the bi-metal badge, on this example the bugle & rose are struck as one piece & then the white metal rose overlaid.

K&K 670 refers.

Second from left is the WWI brass economy 1916 - 19, the bugle & rose being struck as one piece on this example.

Gaylor page 135 refers.

It was stated to me by dealer Jamie Bruntlett in 1988 that these badges were issued to the KOYLI’s Old Comrades Association as lapel badges during Minden day celebrations in 1946 or 1947, his informant being a KOYLI "Old Comrade".

Third from the left is the all white metal version, this example has the bugle & the rose manufactured separately, presumably a continuation of use of dies originally used to produce the bi-metal version.

Kipling & King state that this pattern of badge was sealed on 29/6/38, Gaylor that it was taken into wear shortly after WWII.

I don’t know which of these dates is accurate, it seems unlikely but it is possible that they are both are as some British army badges were officially sealed or authorised years before or after they were actually worn.

K&K 2009 refers.

Far right is the silver anodised version of the badge, sealed 25/4/51.

Sealed some years before the regiment had to adopt the Light Infantry Brigade badge, it may actually have been worn by the regular battalion, not just the Territorial Army element.;

K&K 2010 refers.

Missing from my collection is the WWII plastic economy version of the badge, 45,652 produced in light bronze colour, between 28/10/43 - 5/9/45, all by "JRL".

[SHEARING-CROSS]

KOYLI BADGES , a variation

HELLO LEIGH ,
a while back i picked up a few KOYLI badges , brass with white metal rose ,
the rear of the badge had a different type of fixing , instead of the normal , the badges had two very thick ,strong blades stuck out from the badge at right angles about 10mm long by 5/6 mm width and about 2 mm thick each on had a hole in the end to take a split pin , i was thinking they were designed to go through the thick cork sides of an over seas service helmet but have since been told this is b*&^+K$ , any ideas please ?
regards ,Michael.

The King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry was formed in 1881 by amalgamation of the 51<SUP>st</SUP> Foot & the 105<SUP>th</SUP> Foot.

Originally titled the South Yorkshire Regiment (King’s Own Light Infantry) later that year they were renamed The King’s Own Light Infantry (South Yorkshire Regiment), later named the King’s Own (Yorkshire Light Infantry ), and in 1920 they became The King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry.

In 1958 the KOYLI joined the Light Infantry Brigade & wore the brigade’s cap badge, later being amalgamated with other light infantry regiments into a new regiment named "The Light Infantry".

The regiment wore as a cap badge a French horn with a rose (representing the white rose of Yorkshire) in its centre.

The bugle was in gilding metal, the rose in white metal, later changing to a badge entirely of white metal, and ultimately a silver anodised version.

in its centre, about 19 mm high by about 33 mm wide.

According to Kipling & King a larger version of the bi-metal badge, twice its size, was worn on a particular form of headgear, the "Smasher hat", according to Gaylor it was worn as a the pagri.

During WWI an all brass economy version was produced, & during WWII a plastic economy version.

Badges in my collection:

Left is the bi-metal badge, on this example the bugle & rose are struck as one piece & then the white metal rose overlaid.

K&K 670 refers.

Second from left is the WWI brass economy 1916 - 19, the bugle & rose being struck as one piece on this example.

Gaylor page 135 refers.

It was stated to me by dealer Jamie Bruntlett in 1988 that these badges were issued to the KOYLI’s Old Comrades Association as lapel badges during Minden day celebrations in 1946 or 1947, his informant being a KOYLI "Old Comrade".

Third from the left is the all white metal version, this example has the bugle & the rose manufactured separately, presumably a continuation of use of dies originally used to produce the bi-metal version.

Kipling & King state that this pattern of badge was sealed on 29/6/38, Gaylor that it was taken into wear shortly after WWII.

I don’t know which of these dates is accurate, it seems unlikely but it is possible that they are both are as some British army badges were officially sealed or authorised years before or after they were actually worn.

K&K 2009 refers.

Far right is the silver anodised version of the badge, sealed 25/4/51.

Sealed some years before the regiment had to adopt the Light Infantry Brigade badge, it may actually have been worn by the regular battalion, not just the Territorial Army element.;

K&K 2010 refers.

Missing from my collection is the WWII plastic economy version of the badge, 45,652 produced in light bronze colour, between 28/10/43 - 5/9/45, all by "JRL".

[leigh kitchen]

I know the type you mean - I got one in 1980, the fitting's originally made me think of a pouch or similar insignia, but I don't know of the badge being used that way & the only real need to put on that kind of fitting would be if it were longer perhaps. There's no obvious need for such sturdy fittings, or at least no more need than on any other cap badge. They make sense for a badge in one way, they're stronger, but they're also going to get driven into the wearers forehead if he gets a wallop.
Those type of fittings came in by the early 1970's on some units anodised cap badges. I've seen RRF badges with the small round anodised wire loops similar to the copper ones found on metal badges, & a slightly different manufacturers strike which has longer flat fittings like the KOYLI one we're talking about. far shorter versions of the fitting are used on many different units collar anodised collar dogs.
The KOYLI cap badge was used as a collar dog & as a seperate part of the shoulder title from 1921 - 54, so perhaps it's made that way as part of a shoulder title where it was thought that stronger fittings would be better?
Then again could just be that a particular manufacturer made them that way for no significant reason.
I think that what I'm trying to say is that I don't know.

I was going to post a scan of that badge & others to show different reverses & fittings but had'nt got around to it - I'll do the scan now & post it.

Top left is the all brass one piece WWI economy - I wonder if it was also produced as a 2 piece, with the rose fitted seperately so that a new die did'nt have to be cut to make a one piece brass. Some of the old bi-metal badges were made with horn & rose in one piece, with a proper design to the rose & with no "sweat holes", & then they had the white metal rose applied over the gilding metal one, so maybe they were used for the brass economy.
Slider fitting.

Top right is the all white metal version, this one's made in two pieces, with the rose attached through the hole in the centre of the horn, so it looks like it's made from dies used to construct the brass & white metal badge that it replaced. Again, perhaps old dies were also used to make this version in one piece.
Slider fitting.

Middle is the badge you're talking about, with the large flat metal fittings - this striking could stand alone as a one piece badge, it's had the white metal rose applied over the top of the gilding metal one.

Bottom are a pair of collar dogs, one of which also served as a cap badge.
The French horns are made of gilding metal & then the white metal roses sweated into the hole in the centre.
Copper wire loop fittings.

[SHEARING-CROSS]

Hiya Leigh , yep ....the badge in your scan is the one i had ,thanks for your help ,Michael.

I know the type you mean - I got one in 1980, the fitting's originally made me think of a pouch or similar insignia, but I don't know of the badge being used that way & the only real need to put on that kind of fitting would be if it were longer perhaps. There's no obvious need for such sturdy fittings, or at least no more need than on any other cap badge. They make sense for a badge in one way, they're stronger, but they're also going to get driven into the wearers forehead if he gets a wallop.
Those type of fittings came in by the early 1970's on some units anodised cap badges. I've seen RRF badges with the small round anodised wire loops similar to the copper ones found on metal badges, & a slightly different manufacturers strike which has longer flat fittings like the KOYLI one we're talking about. far shorter versions of the fitting are used on many different units collar anodised collar dogs.
The KOYLI cap badge was used as a collar dog & as a seperate part of the shoulder title from 1921 - 54, so perhaps it's made that way as part of a shoulder title where it was thought that stronger fittings would be better?
Then again could just be that a particular manufacturer made them that way for no significant reason.
I think that what I'm trying to say is that I don't know.

I was going to post a scan of that badge & others to show different reverses & fittings but had'nt got around to it - I'll do the scan now & post it.

Top left is the all brass one piece WWI economy - I wonder if it was also produced as a 2 piece, with the rose fitted seperately so that a new die did'nt have to be cut to make a one piece brass. Some of the old bi-metal badges were made with horn & rose in one piece, with a proper design to the rose & with no "sweat holes", & then they had the white metal rose applied over the gilding metal one, so maybe they were used for the brass economy.
Slider fitting.

Top right is the all white metal version, this one's made in two pieces, with the rose attached through the hole in the centre of the horn, so it looks like it's made from dies used to construct the brass & white metal badge that it replaced. Again, perhaps old dies were also used to make this version in one piece.
Slider fitting.

Middle is the badge you're talking about, with the large flat metal fittings - this striking could stand alone as a one piece badge, it's had the white metal rose applied over the top of the gilding metal one.

Bottom are a pair of collar dogs, one of which also served as a cap badge.
The French horns are made of gilding metal & then the white metal roses sweated into the hole in the centre.
Copper wire loop fittings.

[max7474]

Leigh,
I also have one of the badges with the 2 square prongs instead of the loops worn on the collar. I always assumed to be a WW2 hat badge but it could have also been part of the shoulder title. It is possible that the solides wore this one in lieu of the slider type as it was more secure on the WW2 style side cap. I doubt the WW1 econ came in 2 parts as the whole point of the one metal striking was to save labour time. Certainly all the other WW1 econ (except for the west yorks)I have seen have been a one piece striking with a new mould.