Things You Should Know

There were three monarchs during the era of the home service helmet: Queen Victoria, King Edward VII, and King George V. Each one had their own royal cypher that was sometimes used on plates and badges. The example above is King Edward's.

There are different types of wreaths that can surround the helmet center. I know of laurel, oak-leaf, maple leaf, and for the West India Regiments specifically, half laurel and half palm leaves. The only regular infantry regiment to have oak-leaf wreaths was the Essex Regiment. The example above is a laurel wreath.

The Gloucestershire Regiment was the only regiment in the British Army to wear a badge on the back of their helmets. According to Lt. Colonel R.M. Grazebrook, this was an honor given to them after the regiment fought off French infantry from the front and cavalry from the rear during the Battle of Alexandria 1801.