Pagri / Puggaree badges

[Watchdog]

Following a recent discussion here I thought it might be a good idea to start a thread on the Pagri or Puggaree badges worn by British and Commonwealth forces begining from the time of the Foreign Service Helmet and continuing as far as the Slouch or "Bush" Hat.

The Pagri or Puggaree is the folded cloth band worn around the crown of these headress and is derived from the Sikh turban.

From the outset it was perceived that a unit specific badge or device was required in keeping with the very prevalent principles or regimental identity.

Over time these insignia have taken very different forms apparently originating at unit level rather than from central edict.

Some of the earliest were simply the standard helmet plate centre made with a slider rather than lugs, others were versions of the regiments collar badge or actual conversions of collar badges whilst yet others bore no resemblance to the regimental cap badge at all.
Some were either larger or smaller but of the same design as the standard badge. Others were embroidered cloth items in some cases made from the shoulder straps of obsolete red tunics and there is at least one instance of the embroidered pagri badge being worn on the much later beret (Lancashire Fusiliers).

So, I had a root through my collection and found that I have more pagri badges than I realised so I figured it would be a good idea to see what other members have hidden away.

Please add your pagri badges of all types here and let's see if it makes for a debate and some exchange of info.

Here are a few of mine and I will post others as and when.

Regards

Mark

Hemet plate centre fitted with slider


Somerset Light Infantry embroidered

[Watchdog]

Hallmarked for 1899

[Watchdog]

Pagri badge compared to standard guardsman's cap badge

[Jerry B]

Lovely badges, especially the cloth sli and the silver rifle brigade

[Watchdog]

Lovely badges, especially the cloth sli and the silver rifle brigade

Thanks Jerry, the 7th Gurkha Rifles is a particular favourite as I have had it since 1970 when it was given to me by a friend of my dad and I know where it has been!

Regards

Mark

[Watchdog]

Here is a comparison between the badges worn by Sgt / Warrant Officers and Private / Corporals.

The larger Sgts badge (left) is older bearing the Queens Victorian Crown (QVC) and can be dated to a short period as the regimental title changed in 1887 from the 1881 title of Kings Own Borders to the new title Kings Own Scottish Borderers. So it was only in use from then until the change to the Kings Crown (KC) about 3-4 years later.

The smaller junior ranks badge is later bearing the Kings crown and was unchanged until 1953 when Queen Elizabeth II ascended the Throne and the Queens Crown came into use by which time there was no longer a requirement for pagri badges.

Also, as with other late pattern pagri badges that were identical in appearance to standard badges there is absolutely no reason that this badge would not have been worn in some cases on the other headdress items of the regiment as well as on the pagri as the pin fastening may have been preferable to making holes in the cap and in wear it is impossible to tell the difference..

Regards

Mark

[Jerry B]

I will have shown some of these before but not in a dedicated pug badge thread

[Jerry B]

more

[Jerry B]

for the far east, formation signs were worn either or the pug or on the turnup of a slouch hat and also on the tunic and it is hard to tell from which they came. I have a number of far east patches that might be from pugs. The slouch hat is 2nd Welsh

[Watchdog]

for the far east, formation signs were worn either or the pug or on the turnup of a slouch hat and also on the tunic and it is hard to tell from which they came. I have a number of far east patches that might be from pugs. The slouch hat is 2nd Welsh

Exactly so Jerry. Whilst some embroidered types were purpose specific many were actually formation signs originally meant to be worn on the sleeve but "re-deployed" to the pagri! In such cases when badges are found as single items it is impossible to say whether they came from a tunic or a headdress.

Regards

Mark