Description
Physical description
A single bronzed collar badge for the Seaforth Highlanders, being the "F" cypher of HRH Frederick (the late Duke of York), with a scroll below inscribed "CABER FEIDH". The background to the cypher and the scroll is textured. The small size and the small plinth raising the cypher from the scoll indicate that this as an officers' pattern. Remnants of a pair of lugs are on the reverse.
History note
Badge of pattern approved 1882. With minor variations, worn (in conjunction with the Elephant) until amalgamation in 1961.
The Seaforths was one of only two Regiments to wear double collar badges, the other being the Royal Irish Fusiliers. This came about due to pressure from the both the 72nd and 78th Regiments, amalgamated in the Cardwell/Childers reforms of 1881, to retain their individual insignia. This wish was met by adopting the "F" cipher of HRH the Duke of York and Albany, relating to the 72nd, and the Elephant from the 78th. This came into effect in 1882 and survived, with various minor variations, until amalgamation in 1961.
Official dress regulations required the "F" cypher to be worn nearest to the collar fastenings, with the Elephant (in facing pairs) to be worn behind, also facing the collar fastening. The 78th initially, and unofficially, wore the Elephant nearest the collar fastenings but this minor rebellion seems to have died out by the end of the 1880s.
There were several minor variations to both badges over the years. In the case of the 78th's Elephant, its initial incarnation, dating from 1873, had a curled trunk but an attempt by the authorities to standardise several common signs resulted in a new pattern, dating from 1879, where the trunk reached the ground. However, some later patterns included a reversion to the curled trunk version. Other changes were principally to do with the size and the materials used, such as brass, bronze, gilding metal, etc.
The "F" cipher differed over time primarily in relation to minor size variations, the usual changes in materials and, for the officers' versions, in the fine-ness of the detail and finish. The motto CABER FEIDH translates as "The Antlers of the Deer" and was the battle-cry of the Seaforths, thus harking back to the legendary origins of the Seaforths' stags head insignia.
With the introduction of Service Dress in 1902 a new collar badge was introduced for officers, in effect a small version of the cap badge, in bronze. There were two minor variants, one where the tips of the antlers were closer together than in the other. These collars seem to have been worn by some in parallel with the double collar badges, but whether this was a matter of personal choice or otherwise regulated is not clear.
Inscription
CABER FEIDH