Description
Physical description
White metal headdress (bonnet) badge to soldiers of the King's Own Scottish Borderers, being a voided circlet on which embossed, top, bottom, left and right respectively, KING'S / OWN / SCOTTISH / BORDERERS, overlaying the circlet a saltire cross of St. Andrew, over the centre of which a representation of Edinburgh Castle with three turrets and a flag flying left from each, laying over the upper arms of the cross and following the arc of the circlet a scroll embossed IN VERITATE RELIGIONIS CONFIDO (In True Religion I Trust), below the circle another scroll, running behind the arms of the cross, on which embossed NISI / DOMINUM / FRUSTRA (But the Lord be With Me All Is Vain), the circlet enfolded in an open-topped wreath of thistle, the whole surmounted by a Royal Crest with an Imperial (King's) crown. Two loops to reverse. Captioned "Bonnet Badge".
Physical description
Box 32: Card mount captioned "The King's Own Scottish Borderers Soldiers". Reverse, Large dark green sealing wax seal of an oval on which MINISTRY OF DEFENCE above, PATTERN ROOM below, with ARMY / OFFICERS in the centre. In the right upper corner a red stamp with "Q (MAINT) 2 / MINISTRY OF DEFENCE, 15 Jun 1970".
History note
The badge dates from 1887. Its design reflects the Regiment's city of origin, Edinburgh, with the depiction of Edinburgh Castle as shown in the city's Arms and banner, and by the incorporation of the city's motto, NISI DOMINUM FRUSTRA. The second motto is linked with the badge of the Royal Crest, both being conferred on the Regiment by King George III in 1805 at the time that he changed the Regiment's title to the King's Own Borderers.
History note
The Regiment was raised in 1689 by the Earl of Leven in support of the Protestant William of Orange.
Formally named "25th (Edinburgh) Regiment of Foot" in 1751, in 1782 it became the 25th (Sussex) Regiment of Foot. In 1805, at the behest of King George III, it became "25th (King's Own Borderers) Regiment of Foot". Under the Cardwell reforms of 1881 the Regiment was briefly named the 'York Regiment, King's Own Borderers' but there was a storm of protest and later the same year the York name was dropped. In 1887 the Regiment was renamed "The King's Own Scottish Borderers", this design of badge being adopted at that time, underlining its Scottish origins. The Regiment remained in being until 2006 when it amalgamated with 'The Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment)' to become "The Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland."
Embossed
KING'S OWN SCOTTISH BORDERERS
Inscription
NISI DOMINUS FRUSTRA