Description
Physical description
Brass badge in the form of a fused (or 'flaming') grenade. On the ball of the grenade St George slaying the dragon enclosed by a circular border bearing the words 'NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS'.
History note
Pattern of badge used 1904 - 1935.
The Regiment originated in 1674 when it was raised for service in Holland as Viscount Clare's Regiment of Foot, or the Irish Regiment. It was transferred to English service in 1688 and was known by a succession of Colonel's names until 1751 when it became the 5th Regiment of Foot, and in 1782 the 5th (The Northumberland) Regiment of Foot.
It was further re-designated in 1836 as the 5th (Northumberland Fusiliers) Regiment of Foot, acquiring at that time the principal elements of its later badge, namely the flaming grenade (common to all Fusilier regiments) and motto, QUO FATA VOCANT (Where the Fates Call), the latter on a belt circlet surrounding the central figure 5.
In the major changes of 1881 the Regiment was renamed The Northumberland Fusiliers and the badge design, now a cap badge, changed again, the grenade flames being re-modelled and the central figure 5 being replaced by the figure of St. George slaying the dragon. This latter feature is said to derive from the motif worn by the English Brigade in Dutch service, worn until 1685.
A further change of design occurred in 1904, with the motto being replaced on the circlet by NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS, with another re-modelling of the grenade flames.
The Regiment was granted the "Royal" prefix in 1935, accompanied by a further change of badge design. The grenade flames underwent a further minor re-modelling and the motto returned to the circlet, this time in white metal on the gilding metal of the grenade ball. This pattern was sealed in 1937 and remained the basic design of the badge, other than some subsequent economy versions in all-gilding metal, until 1968.
In 1943, with the introduction of the cap GS, the Regiment adopted a badge backing of a two-inch square of khaki-green ("gosling green") on which was placed a red "V", the Roman numeral 5.
When in 1958 the Regiment was placed (with the Royal and the Lancashire Fusiliers) in the Fusiliers Brigade, it adopted a red over white hackle. In 1968 the Regiment became 1st Battalion, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers and adopted that Regiment's cap badge, which latter derived primarily from the Northumberland's badge. The new Regiment's battalions also all wore the Northumberland's red over white hackle.
Inscription
NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS