REGIMENTAL CRESTS
The fascination of regimental crests--How to plan a collection
of crests--The changes which crests undergo--The meaning of
crests--Mottoes on crests, and their meanings
The crest or badge worn by a soldier is probably one of his most
cherished possessions, for it is at once the symbol of his regiment and
the mascot which urges him on to fame and victory. It is but little
wonder, then, that such emblems, so jealously preserved, should prove
of deep interest to the collector of military curios.
In our own case, and we suppose it was much the same in those of
our readers, army crests fascinated us long before we had a clear
perception of what an army really was. In our early school-days,
buttons bearing the various regimental devices attracted us; later our
collection extended a welcome to cap-badges whilst to-day it contains
such treasures as the crests on waist-belts, crossbelt-plates, helmets,
collar-plates, and even those on the metal flaps of sabretaches.
A collection of regimental badges should be planned on scientific
lines, otherwise the treasured possessions will lose much of their
interest. In the first place, the various specimens should be
classified: buttons should be arranged in one group, cap-badges in
another, belt-plates in another, and so on.
The second grouping should be based upon the standing of the regimental
unit. All the buttons worn by the regular army, for instance, should
be placed in one sub-division; all those of the territorial army in
another; and, as obsolete specimens are still procurable, sub-divisions
should be reserved for the volunteer force, the old militia, and
special forces which have been raised on special occasions.
Of course the badges should be arranged according to the precedence
accorded to the regiments for which they stand; thus, in the case of
the regular army, the Household Cavalry should receive priority and be
followed by the Dragoon Guards; then the Cavalry of the Line should
take third place, whilst the fourth and fifth places should be given to
the Royal Artillery and Royal Engineers. The Guards should be placed
sixth, and the Infantry of the Line seventh. Badges of each of these
divisions should then be arranged according to the seniority of the
regiment. The Army List and the chapter on "Regimental Nomenclature"
will give valuable help on this point. Finally, where regiments possess
various badges for the different companies, these must be arranged in
numerical order.
In planning a collection, it is well to remember that badges are
constantly changing their patterns, not in fundamental ways, it is
true, but in ways which are quite sufficient to add zest to the hobby
of collecting. Battle honours, for instance, have been frequently
added in the past, whilst many changes are sure to take place in the
future, on this score alone, as a result of the great war with Germany.
After the Boer War, additions were made to the scrolls which encircle
many regimental badges, and the same may be said of the Peninsular,
Marlborough's wars, and every great campaign in which the British Army
has figured. Thus it is clear that a collection of devices such as we
have here in mind is full of interest, not only from the military and
antiquarian but also the historical point of view.
[Illustration: BADGE OF THE ROYAL DUBLIN FUSILIERS.
BADGE OF THE ROYAL FUSILIERS (CITY OF LONDON REGIMENT).
BADGE OF THE SEAFORTH HIGHLANDERS (5TH BATTALION).
BADGE OF THE ROYAL REGIMENT OF ARTILLERY.]
In addition to the gradual changes which have arisen, it must be
mentioned that in 1881 the names of many regiments underwent changes
and the badges suffered material alterations in consequence. Before
the year in question, each army unit was known by its number and the
crests bore distinguishing numerals. Thus the Wiltshire badge, which
to-day depicts the Duke of Edinburgh's monogram within a circle, bore
the figures "62" instead up till 1881. The collector will find these
early devices of much interest, but, as a rule, they are fairly hard to
obtain.
Unless the collector has ideas of his own as to how the badges should
be mounted, it will be a capital plan to cover a board with black
velvet and pin the medal emblems to it. When complete, the board should
be framed with a moulding having a fairly deep rebate. The effect will
be pleasing; the frame can be used as a wall ornamentation, and, what
is most important, the badges themselves will be protected, as far as
possible, from the deteriorating influences of the atmosphere.
* * * * *
A study of the designs given on the crests forms, of course, an
interesting pastime. Probably the first point which the student will
notice is that certain specimens bear the King's sign--e.g. the King's
Dragoon Guards and the Grenadier Guards--consequently, all such badges
must inevitably suffer alteration on the demise of the reigning
sovereign.
All royal regiments, with a single exception, bear the royal crown,
though crowns of various types are borne by other units than royal ones.
Light infantry regiments invariably display a horn.
Grenades form part of the devices worn by the Grenadier Guards, the
Royal Artillery, and the Fusilier regiments.
Most of the Irish units display the harp, and the Welsh the dragon, but
in connection with this latter class, it must be mentioned that the
Buffs (East Kent) are also proud of a dragon; this, however, was given
them for services rendered in China.
Britannia, one of our most cherished allegorical figures, is seen on
but a single crest: that of the Norfolks. It was awarded to this unit
for gallantry at Almanza in 1707. The Spaniards in the Peninsular War
nicknamed the men of this regiment the "Holy Boys," as they mistook the
figure of Britannia for that of the Virgin Mary.
A castle and key figure on many regimental devices. All those
which display them fought at Gibraltar and received permission to
incorporate these objects in their crest in memory of the services
which they performed there.
A striped rose forms part of a great many badges. It is a sign of the
union after the War of the Roses.
Animals are favourite emblems. The lion, the symbol of our island race,
naturally figures most frequently, but elephants, horses, tigers, and
stags are great favourites.
It is not always possible to tell why such and such a regiment has
chosen a particular animal for incorporation in its device, but, more
often than not, the design may be traced back to the family escutcheon
of a nobleman who had some hand in raising the unit. A case in point is
the cat encircled by the motto _Sans Peur_, which the men of the 5th
battalion of the Seaforth Highlanders wear on their caps. This creature
has long ornamented the crest of the House of Sutherland, and the
Sutherlands claim guardianship over this particular unit.
In other cases, an animal has been selected because it is specially
appropriate. For instance, the Sherwood Foresters, soldiers who recall
Robin Hood and the good old-fashioned chase, display an ambling stag,
whilst regiments associated with long service in India have adopted an
elephant or tiger.
But the most appropriate badge of all is that worn by the Royal Army
Medical Corps. In this instance, we have a snake coiled around a rod.
The snake, as every reader knows, was the particular mascot carried
by Æsculapius, the god of healing, whilst the same reptile was used
by Moses in the Wilderness to free the Children of Israel from the
ailments which proved so troublesome to them.
The fleeting horse, borne by the King's Own Hussars, the Fifth Dragoon
Guards, and the Royal Fusiliers, is the white horse of Hanover, and was
incorporated in the crests to remind us of services rendered against
the Jacobites.
The Paschal lamb on the "Queen's" was the badge of Catherine of
Braganza, wife of Charles II.
The sphinx, as every one knows, indicates special services in Egypt.
* * * * *
The mottoes incorporated in certain of the regimental crests are not
without interest. The following, with their English equivalents, are
worth noting:--
Pro rege et patria--For King and country.
Quis separabit?--Who shall separate?
Quo fata vocant--Whither fate calls.
Spectemur agendo--Let us be judged by our actions.
Nemo me impune lacessit--No one provokes me with impunity.
Nec aspera terrent--Difficulties do not terrify us.
Mente et manu--With mind and hand.
Pristinæ virtutis memores--The memory of former valour.
Viret in æternum--Flourishes for ever.
Quo fas et gloria ducunt--Where right and glory lead.
Vel exuviæ triumphant--Arms surely triumphant.
Semper fidelis--Always faithful.
Virtutis namurcensis præmium--The reward of valour at Namur.
Omnia audax--To dare all.
Nisi Dominus frustra--Without God, it is vain.
Virtutis fortuna comes--Fortune the friend of valour.
Primus in Indis--First in the Indies.
Gwell angau na chyurlydd--Rather death than shame.
Aucto splendore resurgo--I rise with increased splendour.
Celer et audax--Swift and bold.
Cuidich'n Righ--Assist the King.
Faugh-a-ballach--Clear the way.
In arduis fidelis--In danger, faithful.
[Illustration: SOME REGIMENTAL BUTTONS.]