Queen’s Royal Regiment (West Surrey) Officer’s Service Dress Collar Badge (1894-1898 Pattern)

Queen’s Royal Regiment (West Surrey) Officer’s Service Dress Collar Badge, manufactured to the 1894–1898 pattern. This attractive Victorian officer’s badge represents the regimental insignia of the Queen’s Royal Regiment (West Surrey) and is a desirable item for collectors of British Army officer’s insignia, Victorian military badges, and regimental memorabilia.

The Queen’s Royal Regiment (West Surrey), historically the 2nd Regiment of Foot, was one of the British Army’s oldest infantry regiments. The regiment’s long history extended back to the seventeenth century, with service in numerous campaigns throughout the British Empire. In 1881 it became the Queen’s Regiment, later taking the title Queen’s Royal Regiment (West Surrey).

This 1894–1898 pattern collar badge dates from the late Victorian period and represents a relatively short period in the development of the regiment’s officers’ service dress insignia. Officer’s badges were generally manufactured to a higher standard than other ranks’ insignia, frequently exhibiting finer detailing and construction appropriate to an officer’s uniform.

The badge was worn on the collar of the officer’s service dress tunic, providing clear regimental identification while forming part of the increasingly standardised khaki service dress introduced to the British Army during the late nineteenth century. The period was one of considerable development in British military uniform, with service dress becoming increasingly important for active and overseas service.

The Queen’s Royal Regiment (West Surrey) saw active service during the Victorian era in numerous colonial campaigns and maintained a strong regimental identity through its distinctive insignia. This collar badge is particularly appealing to collectors because of its specific 1894–1898 pattern, representing a short and clearly defined period in the regiment’s uniform history.

An excellent addition to any collection of Queen’s Royal Regiment insignia, Victorian British Army officer’s badges, service dress insignia, or nineteenth-century military memorabilia.

Dimensions

Approx. 28mm × 28mm

Condition

Good original Victorian condition, with age-related wear consistent with service use. The badge retains good detail, with minor rubbing and surface marks appropriate to its age. An attractive example of the 1894–1898 pattern suitable for collecting, research, or display.