East Surrey Regiment Cap Badge, King’s Crown, Restrike

East Surrey Regiment cap badge produced as a restrike of the pattern worn between 1902 and 1953 by the East Surrey Regiment of the British Army. This British Army infantry cap badge displays the recognised insignia of the regiment in clear relief, incorporating an eight-pointed Garter star as the central device, surmounted by an Imperial King’s Crown resting upon a shield bearing the Arms of Guildford — depicting the castle of Guildford with a lion couchant before it — with a lower scroll inscribed “East Surrey”. The star and castle are rendered in white metal, with the crown, shield and scroll in gilding metal, in the bi-metal tradition of the regimental pattern. The composition reflects the heraldic traditions of the regiment and the historic associations of its predecessor units.

The regiment was formed in 1881 through the amalgamation of the 31st (Huntingdonshire) Regiment of Foot and the 70th (Surrey) Regiment of Foot, with the county designation of the regimental name drawn from the junior predecessor unit. The Arms of Guildford were introduced into the badge to reinforce the Surrey county association, with the castle device referencing Guildford Castle as the principal landmark of the regimental county. The cap badge pattern in this form — with the topmost point of the Garter star displaced by a crown and a lower title scroll — was introduced in 1898, with the King’s Crown replacing the Victorian Crown following the accession of King Edward VII in 1902. The badge remained in use until the introduction of Queen Elizabeth’s crown following her coronation in 1953.

Manufactured in bi-metal, with a white metal star and castle device and gilding metal crown, shield and scroll, this restrike example provides a sharply defined representation of the traditional regimental pattern. East Surrey Regiment cap badges are collected as examples of Edwardian and mid-twentieth century British Army infantry militaria, regimental insignia of the Home Counties, and historic uniform hardware of the county regiment era.

Dimensions Approx. 44mm x 41mm

Condition Very good