Irish Guards pipers cap badge

[Watchdog]

This is another example of a distinctive cap badge worn by regimental pipers in British army regiments.

The Irish Guards are the 4th senior of the five regiments of Her Majesty's Footguards which along with the Household Cavalry Regiment make up The Household Division.

As with other regimental pipers those of The Irish Guards wear a different cap badge than the rest of the regiment. In this case it is much larger and slightly different shaped version of the standard design (the Guards use the term "Cap star" rather than "cap badge") and is in white metal rather than brass (there are later anodised aluminium and bright chrome plated versions).
Also, as with other regiments there is a higher quality silver plate and coloured enamel version worn by the Pipe Major (only one in service at any time).

As this is a regiment of Irish origin and tradition this badge is worn in the Irish style Caubeen traditionally worn by Irish regiments of the British Army rather than the Glengarry cap of the Scottish regiments.

I show it here compared to a WWI other ranks cap star which really illustrates the size. Later WWII and post war standard other ranks (enlisted men) cap badges are a little larger but still far smaller than the pipers badge.



Regards

Mark