A "Holy Grail" of Cap Badge Collecting. It is the Badge to the 1/4th Goorkhas Scouts.

A "Holy Grail" of cap badge collecting. It is the badge to the 1/4th Goorkhas Scouts. Certain Gurkha Regiments raised units of Gurkha Scouts in the 1880's. These carefully selected soldiers tended to serve on detachment from their parent unit and at times were brigaded together to form reconnaissance units. The 4 GR provided scouts and they had their own badge although no record of any official recognition of this badge is known. It was likely locally commissioned or worn without formal, high-level War Office documentation. The badge has a Kings Crown but still uses the "Goorkhas" title which had changed in to Gurkhas in 1891 - no examples of a badge with a Victorian crown has ever been seen. The badge is incredibly rare ( no other Gurkha Regt has a Scouts badge, as far as we are aware - some collectors have been looking for this one for over 25 to 30 years or more.
In superb condition, possibly coin silver and typical quality of a locally commissioned badge.

In World War I 1/4th Goorkhas fought in France and Belgium (1914–1915): Deployed as part of the 9th (Sirhind) Brigade, 3rd (Lahore) Division (Indian Expeditionary Force A). The battalion fought in the trenches and major engagements including Givenchy, Neuve Chapelle, and Ypres.
Gallipoli (1915): Transferred to the Gallipoli campaign, disembarking in September 1915 and serving there until December 1915.
Middle East / Persia: Also saw service across India and East PersiaWorld War I

France and Belgium (1914–1915): Deployed as part of the 9th (Sirhind) Brigade, 3rd (Lahore) Division (Indian Expeditionary Force A). The battalion fought in the trenches and major engagements including Givenchy, Neuve Chapelle, and Ypres.
Gallipoli (1915): Transferred to the Gallipoli campaign, disembarking in September 1915 and serving there until December 1915.
Middle East / Persia: Also saw service across India and East Persia

Code: 26394