Liverpool & South West Lancashire FHS - Forum

Hi again,
Wondering if anyone can help. I have been asked by a relative about purchasing a Kings Liverpool Regiment WW1 cap badge. My two great uncles (brothers) died in the war, and I'm not sure whether the badges are exactly the same for all the battalions ( they weren't in the pals). I have seen some on Ebay, but not sure if this is a reliable source. I would be glad of any advice - thanks.

As you say, the Pals (17 to 20th) Battalions of the King's Regiment had their separate Eagle & Child badge.
Otherwise the Regular Army battalions and Service (wartime only) battalions wore the Hanover horse over the title: THE KING'S. The original was in white metal with the title in brass, but all-brass appeared during the war.

These Territorial battalions differed:
The 6th Battalion, Liverpool Rifles, wore a blackened bugle horn below a rose, no horse!
The 8th Battalion, Liverpool Irish, had a harp with crown above, no horse.
The 10th, Liverpool Scottish, had a larger badge which looks roughly circular, with the Hanover horse in the centre in front of a St Andrew's Cross.

Officers' badges might be different, often in bronze.
Other variations applied at different periods, and there are 'restrikes' or reproductions on the market. This might not matter to non-collectors.
Hope this helps.

Daggers

Thanks for your quick reply. The information is a good guide - he wants one for a keep-sake.

I have noticed on e-bay that there is one seller who actually issues a warning about fake badges and in his listing he describes what you should be wary of.
Look out for it.
There is also some benefit to visit this site and look through some of the examples of how they changed during the wars as Daggers has pointed out.
http://www.lostmedals.co.uk/
Genuine badges can be bought for an average of £7-10

A perfect example can be seen here also http://www.9thkings.co.uk/index.html

Add EDIT; Just discovered a very interesting forum that deals exactly with this subject and is run by collectors so promises to be a vast wealth of knowledge
http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/forums/