The Royal Yeomanry

LDY "Brass" large and medium buttons, reproductions that are being used on some Officers No2 Dress today because of the lack of real AA buttons. These buttons are heavy with fixed loops in the back and have no makers mark. As you can see, the detail is very crude on close inspection compared to the real buttons. It is not known when these buttons were made, but its safe to say post 1970.

After the passing of HRH the Queen Mother  the Royal Yeomanry was adopted by HRH Princess Alexandra. It was decided that in honour of this the Regiment would make uniform a cap badge of HRH Princess Alexandra's cypher. This badge has been seen before in the British Army

Prior to 2006, the Royal Yeomanry kept each of its squadrons with the badges and insignia of each respective regiment.

1967-2006

2006-2008

1992 issue "Patch" badge.

Due to the lack of LDY staybright badges, B (LDY) Sqn was issued with a cloth badge and this was worn exclusively until  "Tpr. Morgan-Jones" found a "Regiments" supply of staybright badges, in a Penrith army surplus shop,  whilst on annual camp in 1993.

Later version "Stay bright"

1992-2006

1975-1992

The above badge is identical to the Post 1970 JR Gaunts badge but not as bright. It could be that H W Timings purchased the die from JR Gaunts. The production date of this badge is not currently known, but its assumed to be post 1970.

Makers: H.W. TIMINGS LTD B'HAM

Both badges picture above are made by J R Gaunt.

1. The Rose Petals and Crown are combined in the post 1970.
2. The St Edwards Crown is wider and appears to have no orb on the post 1970.
3. "Bert's Crest" is thinner, in lower relief, and of a poor quality on the post 1970.
4. The ribbon ends are more extended on the post 1970.
5. The shank is longer (not sure if this is relevant) on the post 1970.

Regiment 1963-Onwards

(Battle Dress) WO's & Full NCO's wore the Leicestershire & Derbyshire (PAO) Yeomanry  Arm Badge

JR Gaunts of London (Early Issue) and JR Gaunts of Birmingham (Later Issue).

K&K 2341

The above is the staybright Other Ranks badge introduced in 1963, the LY Crest is well pronounced and the badge, overall, is a very crisp version of the original brass version below. The Brass O/R badge was then reserved for Officers and SNCOs.

(Pattern held at the Imperial War Museum)

The anodised aluminium cap badge was initially catalogued in the CCN of 1963 and 1973 as CB 7936 and later in the COSA's of 1973, 1980, 1982, 1984 and 1997 as NSN 8455-99-973-9507.  (Information supplied by Chris Marsh, author of ANODISED ALUMINIUM: The ‘No Bull’ Cap Badge of the British Army.  First published 2010).
1963 Anodised Aluminium LDY O/R Badge

The above badge is  a "tactical" example, painted by a Yeoman for going on Exercise .

HQ Squadron 1957-63

(Dress Regs in WO32 16521, National Archives, Kew)

Officers would have worn the above, O/Rs would have adhered to dress regs as shown below. 

Leicestershire Squadrons 1957-63

(Dress Regs in WO32 16521, National Archives, Kew)

(Battle Dress) WO's & Full NCO's wore the Derbyshire Yeomanry Arm Badge

Derbyshire Squadrons 1957-63

(Dress Regs in WO32 16521, National Archives, Kew)

(Battle Dress) WO's & Full NCO's wore the Leicestershire PAO Yeomanry Arm Badge 

Anodised Aluminium all ranks button made by J R Gaunt London. On general issue c1963, prior to this date LYPAO & DY buttons were worn in their respective Squadrons. The LDY AA button might have been worn prior to 1963 by the Officers and RHQ Squadron. This button came in large and medium, other ranks wore the medium button only and the Officers wore the large buttons with medium buttons.

Dated 31.09.58:- C8749

Buttons: Leicestershire and Derbyshire, PAO Yeomanry.
AA. Large (Cat No CA 4307).
AA. Small (Cat No CA 4308).
1. Introduction. Patterns (No 17418 and 17419) of the above-mentioned items have been sealed to govern future manufacture and are hereby introduced. The design, in anodised aluminium, consists of a rose surmounted by a St. Edward Crown; on the centre of the rose, the crest of The Leicestershire Yeomanry.

Buttons: Leicestershire and Derbyshire, PAO Yeomanry.

AA. Cap (Cat No CA 3144).
2. Change of Designation. Consequent upon the formation of the Leicestershire and Derbyshire Yeomanry, the above-mentioned plain half-domed cap button (Pattern No 14959), previously ‘Buttons, Derbyshire Yeomanry, AA, Cap (Cat No CA 3144) is hereby changed in designation to read as now shown.

Buttons: Derbyshire Yeomanry.
AA. Large (Cat No CA 4277).
AA. Small (Cat No CA 4278).
AA. OP. Large (Cat No CA 3145).
AA. OP. Small (Cat No CA 33146).
GM. OP. Cap (Cat No CA 3387).
GM. OP. Large (Cat No CA 3388).
GM. OP. Small (Cat No CA 3389).

Buttons: Leicestershire PAO Yeomanry.
AA. Cap (Cat No CA 3197).
AA. Large (Cat No CA 3198).
AA. Small (Cat No CA 3199).
WM. OP. Cap (Cat No CA 3449).
WM. OP. Large (Cat No CA 3450).
WM. OP. Small (Cat No CA 3451).

3. Obsolete. Consequent upon ‘1’ the above-mentioned items are hereby declared obsolete. Existing stocks will be disposed of when buttons introduced in para.1 are available for issue.
= = =
 

Officers SD Cap Gilt & White Metal Cap Badge

This badge was made of two parts and the reverse had a smooth back that meant it was stamped and back filled,  the badge has 14mm lugs.

 1957-63 O/R bi-metal Cap Badge.

(K&K 2342)

List Of Changes dated 30th November 1957 - Change Numbers C 8374 to C 8425
Change Number C 8381
Badges, Cap

CB Number
CB 7936

Designation
Leicestershire and Derbyshire
(Prince Albert's Own Yeomanry)

Designation Notes

INTRODUCTION.
A pattern (No. 17372) has been sealed to govern future
manufacture and are hereby introduced for wear by
other ranks of the Leicestershire and Derbyshire
PAO Yeomanry. The design of the badge consists of the
Crest of the Leicestershire Yeomanry, superimposed upon
the Derbyshire rose, surmounted by St. Edward Crown.
Beneath the Derbyshire rose a scroll inscribed "The Leicestershire
and Derbyshire Yeomanry". The Derbyshire rose, the St Edward's crown and scroll
are in gilding metal and Prince Albert's Crest (for Leicestershire Yeomanry) is in white metal.

C 9100 - Designation is L.D.Y.

9th Sept., 1957-54/Vocab./1289
13th Feb., 1957-Encl. 78 to 54/Officers/4051
I.C.-C./1096

"The Crest & Rose"

1957-1975

**White metal Cap badges used from 1952 onwards and O/R Shoulder titles from 1952 onwards. Officers had the simple "LY" shoulder titles.

1947-1957

Officer's WW2 Silver Service Dress Cap Badge (c1939-57 "design"; K&K 1424 Vol.2), made by JRG & S. HM Birmingham in 1943.

(cloth shoulder titles) 

c1939-47

OFFICERS BRONZE SERVICE DRESS	O/R GILDING-METAL	All RANKS No.1 DRESS

Gilt Metal Example	Gilding-metal Example

This pattern, created in WW2, is the pattern worn by the 154th (Leics. Yeo.) Field regiment RA and by the Leicestershire PAO Yeomanry Hussar Tank Regiment in the post WW2 period, until amalgamation.

Vol.2 K&K 1424 (design C) as Cap Badge & Collar

c1939-1963

There is also  a Leicestershire Yeomanry Officers Sterling Silver Cap Badge (c1928-39 "design", K&K 1424 Vol.1) made by JRG & S. HM Birmingham in 1926. The hallmark is on the bottom scroll on the reverse and has only two loops.  These are rare items and the last one seen on eBay was sold for £135 in March 2009.

Bronze OSD Cap Badge	Gilding-metal O/Rs Cap Badge

It is possible that the "Brass" badges is this pattern were a later production for WW2. The 153rd (Leics. Yeo.) Field Regiment RA may have worn this pattern in brass as "their" Regimental difference to the 154th (Leics. Yeo) Field Regiment RA. This has yet to be confirmed.

Gilding-metal O/R's Collar badge.

Vol. 1 : K&K 1424 (design B) as Cap Badge & Collar

1928-39

K&K 1424 (design A) as Cap Badge

c1922-28

The Regimental Badge

The crest of the Prince Consort: A conical cap charged with the arms of Saxony (Barry of ten, Sable and Or, a Rue Crown in Bend, Vert). Crowned Or and surmounted by a Peacock's tail proper.

Tunic Front: 25mm Shoulder: 24.5mm Cuff & Breast Pocket: 17.5mm SD Cap: 15mm

The Bronze button (Officers Only) is made by Jennens & Co London. The Brass button and Silver plated button are made  and J R Gaunt & Son Ltd, London ENGD. The button pattern is a copy of the c1850 button with the "LY" initials instead of the original "LYC". Prince Albert's crown is the Guelphic crown. Prince Albert was a German, and this crown is the crown of the Dukes of the House of Hanover, of which he was a member, as were the British Royal family. Victoria and Albert both had the surname, Sax-Coburg-Gotha, and they were first cousins, as are the Queen and Prince Phillip. (*** During WW2, and as part of the Royal Field Artillery, the Leicestershire Yeomanry wore the R.A. Button with the LY Cap Badge and Collars)

1908-57 ( "LY"All Ranks Buttons)

The above shows the pattern in what is thought to be its genuine order.

The above badge is possibly the the first War Department issue of the Pattern (it could be a fake also). The lower PAO scroll is more upright to that of the more common later issue post 1915 badge and has a "W" shaped appearance at distance. Sgt Thirlby Hack, seen in the inset photo, would have been one of the first men to receive the new WD badge having been a Frezenberg survivor.

Genuine O/R's Gilding-metal Cap Badge

The above badge is thought to be the first pattern of its type, funded by the Regiment in 1916. The provenance of this badge comes from a donation to the LY Museum from a WW1 veteran some years ago. This badge is crudely made with blemishes in the face of the badge on some of the examples, its is found either lugged or with a slider. It is only ever seen in the cap and never on the collar from the dates c1915-22. It is a heavy badge of 6 grams compared to the later die struck 3 gram later issue. (Note: No War department record of either badge has been established yet, until a definite confirmation is found then we can only make a plausible speculation).

Cap badge with slider or loops (Collars not used).

The General service pattern button was used c1914-19 then the brass LYPAO Garter button post war for all ranks.

"The Crest"

c1915-22 (Other Ranks "economy")

Officers Service Dress bronzed collar  badge with folders (c1915-28), "Possibly" made by Jennens & Co or J R Gaunts. It could also have been used as a cap badge. This badge is a different pattern to K&K 1318 and K&K 1424 (Listed as K&K 1424), its a relatively common badge but catalogued incorrectly.

Officers White Metal ("Yeo" Scroll) No.1 Dress Collar Badge c1908-27

Officer's Cap Badge c1913-15 ( "I.Y." Scroll collar badge c1903-08), worn by senior officers.

O/R's Cap Badge (K&K 1422)

Other Ranks Gilding-metal with the "Hatching" (for Blue) LY interior.

There is also a white metal version (pictured in K&K Vol.1).

(W = 4 cm H = 4.2 cm )

O/R's lugged Cap/Collar Badge (K&K 1422)

Other Ranks Gilding-metal (Shown) with the "Hatching" (for Blue) LY interior.

(W = 4 cm H = 4.2 cm )

O/R's lugged Cap/Collar Badge (K&K 1422)

Other Ranks White metal (Shown) with the "Hatching" (for Blue) LY interior.

(W = 4 cm H = 4.2 cm )

On the re-establishment of the Imperial Yeomanry to "Territorial" many of the "LIY" badges had the "I" removed. Hence, in many pre WW1 (post 1912) photographs you will see some of the men with the slightly smaller "collar" ....... or cap badge with a wider gap between the LY compared to the LY cap badge on new issue.

1908-15

Cap badge (4 cm Height and 4 cm width)

White metal and also in gilding-metal

K&K 1317

Collar badge (Height 3.3cm and width 3.2cm)

White metal only.

"LIY PAO" Garter button, silver officers blues dress button. (Made by Hobson & Sons, London)

1904-08

K&K (1316) The rare LIY badge being worn by a Trooper c1902, note also that the Trooper is wearing the Scarlet embellished khaki serge frock that came into service on the  return of the Yeomanry from South Africa. The badge is believed to be made up of five individual parts. Also seen in this picture are the shoulder titles "L I Y", separate  brass letters (see example below). If you look carefully at the photo you will see that the badge is worn with a scarlet backing to it. The LIY (P.A.O) brass button (Manufacturer: Sword Make),  khaki serge button c1902-08. The LIY (P.A.O) silver plate button (Manufacturer: Sword Make), Blue serge c1902-08. Letter head cypher from 1903-10 1902-04 Imperial Yeomanry Lt. The Hon. P C Evans-Freke pictured here in the uniform of the Imperial Yeomanry, his folding Forage cap is the "Imperial Yeomanry" with a small white metal badge of the Imperial Yeomanry (Prince of Wales Feathers) with gilt coronet. It had a purple body and peak with a red crown and gold piping and the buttons were gilt with white metal POW feathers and gilt coronet. According to W Y Carman's book on Yeomanry Headdress, the purple seems to have indicated the "Imperial purple" of Rome and was kept by some new Yeomanry Regiments (Westminster Dragoons and the Rough Rider's for example).
7th Coy (Sqn), 4th IY (Genuine Article)	65th Coy, 17th IY (Pictured: Rosette colours as per 65th Coy)

The slouch hat worn by the LIY in South Africa had on its side a rosette of dark red and blue with a brass numeral 7 or 65 respectively, it appears that the rosette differed in colour with the 7th Scarlet/Blue and the 65th blue/Scarlet.

Not to be confused with the Wiltshire Imperial Yeomanry, the "Imperial Yeomanry" also wore a red and purple silk rosette to be worn on the slouch hat and this carried a gilt badge of the prince of Wales feathers and IY.

South Africa 1900 -1902

PAOLYC Hussar Ball Button 1873-1901

(White metal large, Dolman Jacket front edge)

Letter head cypher from 1844-1903

1873-99

White metal Other Ranks button.

Button size range: 23mm (J R Gaunt & Sons, London), 22mm (Firmin & Sons, London), 21mm (Hamburger, London), 18mm (Firmin & Sons, London) & 17mm (Hamburger, London).

The white metal LYC buttons are c1850 (as seen on Lt.Col. Legh-Keck's uniform). The small button is made by Hamburger & Co, London and the large button is made by J R Gaunt & Son Ltd, London ENGD. Prince Albert's crown is the Guelphic crown. Prince Albert was a German, and this crown is the crown of the Dukes of the House of Hanover, of which he was a member, as were the British Royal family. Victoria and Albert both had the surname, Sax-Coburg-Gotha, and they were first cousins, as are the Queen and Prince Phillip.

Other Ranks Plain white metal.	Officers Gilt & white metal.

 "Bell top" Shako plate, Scroll added post 1844.

Shoulder scale button c1830-44.

Light Dragoon Fur Helmets with Black cockade  with crowned garter "GR" (Left side) and white over red plume (right). Later version had Red silk turban (above).

Above is a metal detector find, a 15mm "Georgian" white metal LY coatee button found on the county border with Nottingham.

These buttons are possibly the earliest pattern.

c1796-1830

Instructors Trade badge worn on the chevrons.

WO's & Full NCO's Leicestershire Squadrons (Derbyshire Yeomanry Arm Badge)

WO's & Full NCO's Derbyshire Squadrons (Leicestershire Yeomanry Arm Badge)

WO1 example.	Staff example with trade badge.

Dress Uniform


LDYPAO NCO Arm badge used from c1963 to Today

The rank names and insignia of non-commissioned officers in the Cavalry are unique in the British Army of the period:

Staff Corporal/Squadron Quartermaster Corporal = Staff Sergeant/Squadron Quartermaster Sergeant: Four chevrons, point up, with a star above, worn on lower sleeve

Corporal of Horse = Sergeant: Three chevrons, point down, with metal crown above, however, the rank above shows 4 chevrons pointing down for the LYC.

Lance Corporal of Horse = Corporal: Three chevrons with cloth crown above

Lance Corporal: Two chevrons with  crown above

Technically, Lance Corporal of Horse is an appointment rather than a rank: a new Cavalry corporal is automatically and immediately appointed lance corporal of horse, and is referred to as such thereafter.

Merit and proficiency badges are worn on the left lower sleeve.

The Warrant Officer ranks are the same as the rest of the army, but appointments include Regimental Quartermaster Corporal and Squadron Corporal Major (WO2) and Farrier Corporal Major and Regimental Corporal Major (WO1), again excluding the word sergeant.

Formerly, sergeant was exclusively an infantry rank: no cavalry regiment had sergeants. Only the Household Cavalry now maintains this tradition, possibly because sergeant derives from the Latin serviens (meaning servant) and members of the Cavalry, once drawn exclusively from the gentry and aristocracy, could not be expected to have such a title. However this origin may be apocryphal, since serjeant was a title used by some offices of comparative seniority, such as Serjeants at Arms, and Serjeants at Law.

***Uniquely, non-commissioned officers and warrant officers of the Household Cavalry do not wear rank insignia on their full dress uniforms (although officers do). Rank is indicated by a system of aiguillettes.

Private soldiers in the Cavalry regiments, are called "Troopers".

Second Lieutenants in the Cavalry are known as Cornets.

The Household Cavalry still uses this system of rank today.