WW1 Royal Warwickshire Regiment, 2nd Birmingham Battalion cap badge.

Royal Warwickshire Regiment, 2nd Birmingham Battalion cap badge

The 15th (Service) Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, was one of three "Birmingham Pals" battalions raised from volunteers in the city in September 1914. Its men wore the regimental antelope badge with an extra scroll beneath, reading "2nd Birmingham Battalion". Volunteers who joined from early 1915 to replace men sent for commissions were often issued the standard Royal Warwickshire badge instead, which makes this pattern closely tied to the original 1914 volunteers.

Because these badges are scarce and sought after, they have been widely copied. I have tried to research as much as possible, this badge came from a jewellery box found in a house clearance . Collectors identify genuine examples by a set of features the copies tend to get wrong. This badge shows them.

The antelope
The antelope is full-bodied and well modelled, with a textured "fur" effect across the body. Copies typically have a thin, smooth-bodied antelope with no hair detail.

The coronet
The coronet around the antelope's neck is properly formed with its jewels. Restrikes commonly lack the jewels in the coronet.

The goatee
The antelope has a distinct small goatee beneath its muzzle. This is a fine detail that the common fakes leave out, and its absence is one of the features collectors use to rule a badge out.

The lettering
The lettering on both scrolls is crisp, narrow and well proportioned. The most common fake has scroll lettering that is too large and rounded.

The scroll
The upper "Royal Warwickshire" scroll curls back at both ends rather than extending outward, as on genuine examples.

The slider
The badge is fitted with a heavy, thick brass slider, the correct fitting for these badges. The slider is blank. Copies are often found with a slider stamped with the J.R. Gaunt London maker's name.

The crimp mark
The slider carries a crimp mark from being worn, consistent with a badge that has been fitted to a cap rather than kept as a shelf piece.

Quality and age
The strike is sharp and the overall quality is high. The badge shows even, natural toning to the brass and white metal, with wear on the high points and verdigris in the recesses.

A badge of one of Birmingham's own Kitchener Battalions