Description
Physical description
The star of the Order of the Garter, an Imperial (King's) crown displacing the uppermost point. On the star, a Maltese cross, the arms with ball ends, on the four arms of which are displayed the battle honours of the Regiment. In the centre of the cross a circle inscribed ARROYO DOS MOLINOS 1811, and within the circle, voided, a Chinese Dragon superscribed CHINA, backed with red fabric. Behind the cross a laurel wreath. Below the lower three points of the Star a scroll inscribed THE BORDER REGIMENT. Plastic. Pair of blades to reverse.
History note
Second World War period plastic cap badge for the Border Regiment.
Plastic cap badges, which were first introduced into the British Army during 1941 as a result of metal shortages caused by the prioritised demands of industrialised war production, proved very unpopular with British Army personnel.
The predecessor Regiment was raised in East Anglia in 1702 as Lord Lucas's Regiment of Foot. Having served as Marines in 1740 the Regiment was ranked in 1747 as 34th of Foot and known formally by that name from 1751. In 1782 they were re-designated 34th (Cumberland) Regiment of Foot. As part of the Cardwell/Childers reforms of 1881 the Regiment merged with the 55th Foot (Westmorland) to form the Border Regiment.
By 1883 the headdress badge incorporated four of the elements that were to remain until the Regiment's dissolution. From the 34th's badge of 1874 came the laurel wreath, associated with the Regiment's involvement in the Battle of Fontenoy in April 1745, and the Maltese Cross. Also from the 34th came the battle honour ARROYO DOS MOLINOS 1811, commemorating the Regiment's 2nd Battalion (raised 1805, disbanded 1817) action during the Peninsular campaign when it captured the entire French 34th Regiment, complete with its band equipment, an event commemorated annually by trooping the French drums by Regimental drummers in French uniforms. From the 55th came the Chinese dragon, awarded to the 55th for its service in China 1840-1842. By 1901 the badge had acquired a further symbol associated with the 55th, the Garter Star, deriving from the Westmorland Militia, which had become the 3rd Battalion the Border Regiment at the time of the amalgamation in 1881. A crown surmounting all was also added at this point, harking back to the design of the 34th's 1874 badge.
In 1959 the Regiment amalgamated with the King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster) to form the King's Own Royal Border Regiment, which became part of the Lancastrian Brigade and wore the Brigade badge. In 1970 the Lancastrian Brigade was broken up and the King's Own Royal Border Regiment regained its independence, with a new cap badge.
In 2006 the Regiment became part of the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment (King's Lancashire and Border), all three constituent units providing components of the two regular battalions.
Inscription
The Border Regiment
Arroyo dos molinos 1811
China
Pyrennes, Nivelle, Nive, Alma
Peninsula Sevastopol, Nkerman, Orthes
Relief of Ladysmith, South Africa 1899-1902
Albuhera, Vittoria, Lucknow