This field covers, in the main, headdress badges of many different parts of the world, but also includes cross-belt plates, etc. An interesting example is the parallel existence of regimental badges for the British and Austrian armies, fighting on opposing sides in WW1, something unique to these two countries. Good reference books include: Kipling & King's two volumes on headdress badges of the British Army; John Gaylor's book on cap badges of the British Army; Ashok Nath's book, Izzat: Historical Records and Iconography of Indian Cavalry Regiments 1750-2007 (published 2009 by the Centre for Armed Forces Historical Research United Service Institution of India), a superb rendering of this extremely complex subject, beautifully illustrated. Ashok Nath's website is at: http://sites.google.com/site/anath53/home

This would have been worn on the puggaree (the white cotton band worn round the body of the helmet in many folds) of the solar topee. The Indian Police had a tremendous tradition of service, not just in a civil capacity, but also as military police battalions on the frontier. This badge would have been worn by both civil and military units.

This is a Soviet inspired piece, with a typical Russian style wreath of ears of wheat, hence it must be of a fairly late date, perhaps 1980s somewhere. The pagoda device in the centre is the Afghan emblem.

This would have been worn from the Edwardian era through to the 1930s, when, in all probability, as in the UK, metal shoulder titles were replaced with cloth ones. The Bombay Sappers & Miners were an elite unit, insomuch as all Indian S&M units were fighting troops first and foremost and road engineers/pioneers second.

This is the badge which was worn on the pouch belt by the officers of the British Indian police. The police was divided into two components in India: the paramilitary police battalions who served on the frontiers (viz Burma and NWF) and the local police, who kept order in the cities and towns of India.

This is a bazaar casting of the badge of what could possibly be from a bandsman's pouch or perhaps an officer's undress pouch belt. The 4th Hussars were a prestigious British light cavalry regiment and no doubt this badge was cast in the bazaar to replace a British original which had been lost.

This little badge (7.5cm across) may be of Indian parentage, inasmuch as its provenance is Indian and it appears to be a one-peice bazaar casting in brass. I think it would have been worn on the top pocket of a tunic, as it appears to be too large to have been worn as a shoulder title.

The Duke of Atholl was the only man in Britain allowed to raise a private army, so this might well be for his unit. However, other members of his clan/family would have been entitled to wear this.

The Duke of Atholl was the only man in Britain allowed to raise a private army, so this might well be for his unit. However, other members of his clan/family would have been entitled to wear this.

This could be a US piece for the Union kepi or the Hardee hat, which was a black felt slouch hat with a turned up brim. Alternatively it could be for some colonial Dutch or Boer unit. It is head insignia because of the two pairs of holes punched for stitching attachment at either end of one of the canons and the brass prongs sweated on at the back.

This is the second class of the three German sports qualification badges (gold, silver and bronze) of the 1930s, seen worn in many pre-war photos, particularly of SS and armed forces personnel. In 1938 alone, approximately 8,000 silver class badges were awarded, some 87,000 bronze and 1,900 odd gold.