British Army Cap Badge – Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment)
British Army Cap Badge – Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment)
Bi-metal British Army other ranks cap badge for the Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment), featuring the stag and oak wreath motif worn by Midlands soldiers from the First World War through the Second.
Images
Specifications
| General Information | |
|---|---|
| Type | Cap badge for service dress cap / beret |
| Country | Britain |
| Service Branch | British Army |
| Unit | Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment) |
| Era | c. 1914–1953 — King’s crown, “Notts & Derby” scroll; representative of WWI and WWII issue |
| Material | Two-piece bi-metal: white metal Maltese cross with separate brass stag, oak wreath and scrolls; brass slider fastening |
| Obverse | Stag lodged within oak wreath on Maltese cross, King’s crown above, scrolls reading “SHERWOOD FORESTERS” and “NOTTS & DERBY” |
| Reverse | Plain back with integral brass slider |
Historical Summary
The Sherwood Foresters were formed on 1 July 1881 under the Childers Reforms, which reorganised the British infantry into county regiments. The new regiment combined the 45th (Nottinghamshire) Regiment of Foot, raised in 1741, as the 1st Battalion, and the 95th (Derbyshire) Regiment of Foot, raised in 1823, as the 2nd Battalion, alongside militia and volunteer battalions from Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.
In 1902 the title became Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment), explicitly linking the regiment to Nottinghamshire and the Sherwood Forest tradition. Battalions of the Sherwood Foresters saw extensive service in both World Wars, fighting on the Western Front in 1914–1918 and later in campaigns such as Norway, France and Dunkirk, North Africa, Italy and the Far East in 1939–1945. In 1970 the regiment was amalgamated into the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment; its lineage now continues within the Mercian Regiment.
Collector Notes
Sherwood Foresters cap badges were produced for both World Wars, and wartime examples like this remain accessible to collectors.
Dating relies primarily on the crown and wording. The King’s crown and “Notts & Derby” scroll place this pattern in the early twentieth century through the early 1950s, spanning both World Wars. Later Queen’s crown versions reflect post-1953 issues. This badge displays honest wear to the high points and is associated with Midlands units and Sherwood Foresters service in Norway, Italy or North-West Europe, and it represents exactly what was worn during WWI and WWII by Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire units.
Provenance
- Acquired on the collector market. This badge aligns with genuine Sherwood Foresters cap badges from the early twentieth century based on attachment type, materials and construction.
- No named soldier attribution.
- Badge has been left in original patinated condition with no restoration.
- On balance of construction details and wear, this is a period original piece, not a modern reproduction.
Downloads
- Printable information sheet for this badge to be added in a future update.