Sunday, June 30, 2013

Regimental Cap Badges of the Volunteer Battalions of the Gordon Highlanders 1860 - 1908


The following images show the regimental cap badges of the Volunteer Battalions of the Gordon Highlanders during the Victorian and early Edwardian Era 1860 - 1908. St. Andrew appears to have been a common element in several early badges. For those who are either knowledgeable and/or members of the Gordon Clan, it should be recognized that the early cap badge of the 6th Volunteer Battalion, is very similar to the common civilian Clan Gordon badge.

In the cap badges of the 4th Aberdeenshire Rifle Volunteers and its successor, the 4th (Donside Highland) Volunteer Battalion, the Gordon Highlanders, a cock is featured as the central element of the  badge. "Cock o' the North" was the regimental quick march of the Gordon Highlanders, officially adopted in 1932. It was long associated with the Marquess of Huntly, Chief of the Clan Gordon, who is always referred to as "Cock o' the North" at all Clan official functions. Pre-dating its official adaptation, "Cock o' the North" was played by Piper George Findlater VC during the famous charge of the Gordon Highlanders in capturing the Heights of Dragai, in India, 20 October 1897.

As seen on the other page in this blog depicting their uniforms (http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2013-04-04T14:03:00-07:00&max-results=7&start=1&by-date=false), there were additional Volunteer Battalions of the Gordon Highlanders, and even more than shown in the uniform plates, however these badges represent known identified specimens. With full acknowledgement and gratitude to the Scottish Military History Website (See Links on this blog).

1st Aberdeenshire Rifle Volunteers 1860 - 1880
Other Rank's Shako Badge (Brass)

!st Aberdeenshire Rifle Volunteers 1860 - 1880
Officer's Silver Glengarry Badge

1st Aberdeenshire Rifle Volunteers 1860 - 1880
Other Rank's Glengarry Badge (Brass)

2nd Aberdeenshire Rifle Volunteers 1880 - 1884
Glengarry Badge (White Metal)

4th Aberdeenshire Rifle Volunteers 1880 - 1884
Officer's Glengarry Badge (Silver)

4th (Donside Highland) Volunteer Battalion, The Gordon Highlanders
1893 - 1908  Officer's Glengarry Badge (Silver)

6th Volunteer Battalion, The Gordon Highlanders 1884 - 1891
Officer's Glengarry Badge (Silver) 

6th Volunteer Battalion, The Gordon Highlanders 1884 - 1891
Other Rank's Glengarry Badge (White Metal) 

6th Volunteer Battalion, The Gordon Highlanders 1891 - 1908
Other Rank's Glengarry Badge (White Metal) 


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