WW1 Gloucestershire Regiment White Metal Cap Badge Slider 42mm Original

Up for sale is an authentic, original cross-era British Army line infantry cap badge representing the historic Gloucestershire Regiment.

This badge is constructed from premium white metal and features the regiment’s highly celebrated, unique insignia. It proudly showcases the Egyptian Sphinx resting over the “EGYPT” battle honor plinth, flanked by a detailed laurel wreath. Below the wreath is an intricately stamped lower title scroll bearing the full “GLOUCESTERSHIRE” name.

Measuring 42mm x 52mm, this standard other ranks’ badge is fitted with its original, robust brass rear slider bar. As shown in the reverse-side photographs, the factory braze work remains entirely intact and sound. It remains completely unpolished to preserve its vintage character and field-worn appeal. A phenomenal addition to any WWI or WWII militaria collection, family history display, or British line infantry collection.

The Gloucestershire Regiment, affectionately nicknamed “The Glosters”, holds one of the most unique and decorated lineages in the British Army, tracing its origins back to 1694.

The prominent Sphinx and “EGYPT” plinth were awarded to the 28th Regiment of Foot (later the 1st Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment) to honor their heroic actions at the Battle of Alexandria in 1801. During this battle, the regiment was surrounded and fought off French attacks from the front and rear simultaneously. This extraordinary action also earned them the unique right to wear a unique secondary “Back Badge” on the reverse of their caps—a tradition maintained throughout both World Wars until the regiment amalgamated in 1994.

Because this exact white-metal stamping specification was retained for combat headdress service across both the Western Front of the Great War and the global deployments of the Second World War, it stands as a versatile and iconic symbol of British military endurance.