Boer War Hat

[Ganderite]

My cousin just sent me my grandfathers's hat that he wore in the Boer War. I have a picture of him standing in front of his tent, holding what appears to be a Long Lee.

The hat looks like the kind associated with the Aussies, but he was with British regiment. I have not looked at the family papers, but I think it was the ?? Yeomanry.

many years later (60) he attended a reunion in England and I have a picture of him meeting the Queen. For that picture he had a similar, but newer and fancier hat, with a chin strap.

I am told that this is the one he wore in Africa. It looks like it went through a war.

I wear a 71/2 sized hat, and this one fits. I will wear it at the Vintage Rifle Shoot.

Maybe some historian can comment on this style hat.

 

[sunray]

Typical 'slouch' hat of the time. Likely had a chin strap when it was new. Don't think I'd be wearing it too much. If you do, take the badge and hackles off. They may be worth some money by themselves.
The 3 feathers are the badge of the Prince of Wales. Might have been a Welsh Regiment. Mind you, there were several Regiments associated with the Prince of Wales. Some(most actually) of which have long since been amalgamated into/with other Regiments. Cap badges did change over time too.
The words are Ich Dien. 'I Serve' in German.
"...appears to be a Long Lee..." Yep.

 

[Calum]

I know it's wikpedia but...

The Prince of Wales's Own Civil Service Rifles were a regiment in the Volunteer Force of the British Army from 1798 to 1921; they saw active service in the Boer War

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_of_Wales's_Own_Civil_Service_Rifles

Looks promising.

Neat family heirloom BTW.

 

[Ganderite]

His family was from the Bath area - not far from Wales....

If i wore it at a Vintage Rifle Match, would it be considered wrong to wear it with the hat bage on it? Like wearing a uniform jacket with rank badges...

 

[John Sukey]

Keep the badge. It's NOT the same as wearing medals you didn't recieve. AND you might damage the hat by removing it or the hackles

 

[sunray]

"...considered wrong to wear it with..." Nope. I'm just thinking about its value and possibly damaging it.

 

[Riflechair]

Neat
Thanks for sharing

 

[tankman]

Hi there,
The crimson backing is interesting,normally associated with the 11th Hussars (PAO) and therfore no Welsh or POW connection until amalgamation with the 10th Hussars in 1969.The 10th & 11th were Charge of the Light Brigade Regiments.
TM

this might be in the right direction:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Wiltshire_Yeomanry

 

[dts369]

Checked my british badge cap guide,there's 2 similar ones,Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry + 15th london regiment(pow civil service rifles),the motto's the same but scrolls different.I would say the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry would be it.Thanks for posting pic as I havn't looked through the book for along time.

Todd