WW1 Hampshire Regiment Officers OSD Bronze Cap Badge Kings Crown 2Lugs Original*

Up for sale is an authentic, highly collectible WW1 Hampshire Regiment Officer’s Service Dress (OSD) Cap Badge. This premium insignia features the Hampshire Rose at the center, enclosed within the circular Order of the Garter strap inscribed with “Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense”. The entire emblem is superimposed over a finely detailed 8-pointed star, surmounted by the Tudor King’s Crown, and underscored by a sweeping unit scroll reading “HAMPSHIRE”.

Struck in solid bronze/gilding metal, the reverse side features a pair of dual copper wire attachment loops (lugs) spaced exactly 30 mm apart, which appear to be an authentic period modification or replacement. This premium officer-level variant remains a poignant piece of Great War history, ideal for advanced militaria specialists or display collections.

Used / Good Antique Condition (Modified Rear Fittings). The front facade of this original Great War officer insignia remains in exceptional physical shape with crisp, high-relief detailing across the crown’s jewels, the petals of the central rose, and the lettering within the garter track. It features a beautiful, untouched dark chocolate-toned OSD bronze finish with minor authentic surface wear completely consistent with front-line age. The reverse side clearly shows the clean, mirror-image die-struck indentations alongside natural aging and verdigris in the recesses. Please note: As is common with many surviving OSD pieces, the original reverse blades are absent, and the badge has been neatly fitted with two replacement copper wire mounting lugs firmly set with period solder tracking. Please evaluate all included close-up photos to verify the physical build before purchasing. 

The Hampshire Regiment holds a decorated lineage in the British Army dating back to 1702. During the First World War, the regiment mobilized 36 battalions, serving with immense distinction at Gallipoli, the Somme, and across the Western Front.

The symbols on the badge are steeped in royal history; the central red rose belongs to the house of Lancaster, famously awarded to the county militia by King Henry V in 1415 following the Battle of Agincourt. This specific bronzed OSD star variant was authorized for wear on the Service Dress caps of commissioned officers. While the sealed factory pattern featured flat brass blades, these were frequently broken or intentionally modified to wire lugs to accommodate different hat types or secure split-pin backings. This single-word “Hampshire” title remains a verified pre-1946 artifact.