1st Kings Dragoon Guards cap badge circa 1896-1915

Superb example of brass other ranks cap badge with rear slider, nice crimp mark to top of slider . 1st (Kings) Dragoon Guards cap badge was changed in 1915 because it was considered too Germanic. The original badge prominently featured the Royal Cypher of Kaiser Wilhelm II, who was the regiments Colonel-in-Chief prior to World War I. Given the outbreak of war with Germany in 1914, the association with the Kaiser became politically and culturally unacceptable. In 1915, the badge was replaced with a new design featuring the Imperial Crown and the regiments name, removing any Germanic connections. This change was part of a broader effort during the war to eliminate symbols and associations with the enemy, reflecting the shift in public sentiment and national priorities.