Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry KOYLI Officers BRONZE Cap Badge

Guaranteed original. Complete & intact. This is an original King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry KOYLI Regiment Cap Badge for sale. In good condition. Please see our other items for more original WW1, WW2 & post war British military cap badges for sale including other King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry KOYLI cap badges.

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The King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (KOYLI) was a regiment of the British Army. It officially existed from 1881 to 1968, but its predecessors go back to 1755. The regiment’s traditions and history are now maintained by The Rifles. In 1881 after the Cardwell and Childers reforms, regimental numbers were abolished. The 51st King’s Own Light Infantry became the 1st Battalion, The King’s Own Light Infantry (South Yorkshire Regiment) and the 105th became its 2nd Battalion. The Childers reforms also combined militia and rifle volunteer units into the regiments formed in 1881. Accordingly the 1st West Yorks Rifles Miltia became the 3rd Militia Battalion, while the 3rd Administrative Battalion West Riding of Yorkshire Rifle Volunteer Corps became the 1st Volunteer Battalion. In 1897 the regimental title was changed to The King’s Own (Yorkshire Light Infantry), and in 1921 to The King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. With the creation of the Territorial Force in 1908, the 1st Volunteer Battalion was reorganised as the 4th and 5th Battalions (TF), while the 3rd Battalion was transferred to the Special Reserve.

The KOYLI was raised to thirteen battalions during World War I, and nine during World War II, including not only infantry but anti-aircraft and armoured units as well. During World War II the battalions served in all three fronts (Europe, North Africa and Asia-Pacific). In 1948, 1 KOYLI was disbanded and 2 KOYLI was renamed 1 KOYLI. In 1968, 1 KOYLI became the 2nd Battalion of The Light Infantry (2LI). In 2007 the LI merged with the Royal Green Jackets to form a new regiment, The Rifles. The former 1 KOYLI battalion (now 1LI) became ‘5 RIFLES’. The 51st first saw action during the Seven Years’ War, gaining a reputation at Minden, its first battle honour. In 1803 it served in the first Kandyan War in Major-General Hay Macdowall’s division. The regiment embarked for the Peninsula in 1807, serving with distinction. The regiment served on the extreme right at Waterloo, and was engaged at Hougoumont Farm. Both the 51st and 105th saw extensive service all over the Empire throughout the nineteenth century. The Second battalion (105th) fought well in the South African War. Both battalions served on the Western Front in World War I, as well as 3 Territorial and eight volunteer service battalions.

In World War II the regiment’s nine battalions represented the new age of warfare. 5 and 8 KOYLI were anti-aircraft units, 7 KOYLI were armoured (in 1941, becoming 149th Regiment in the Royal Armoured Corps, but continuing to wear their KOYLI cap badge on the black beret of the RAC), and 9 KOYLI (formerly the Queen’s Own Yorkshire Dragoons) was motorised. The KOYLI fought in Italy (hence their ironic Regimental Anthem “The D-Day Dodgers”), they also fought as a rearguard in the retreat through Burma. 1/4 Battalion of the regiment served through North West Europe crossing the channel several days after D-Day as part of the 49th Division. Reduced to one battalion after the war, the KOYLI took part in peace-keeping and counter-insurgency operations in the far east. The battalion finally moved to Berlin in 1967, where it joined the Light Infantry Regiment. The badge of the KOYLI is unique amongst English light infantry regiments as the horn is of the ‘French’ type (with a twist). The origins of this are obscure. It appears to have been adopted after Waterloo, however before this the 105th had an ‘English’ style Bugle horn with a loop. In its centre is the White Rose of York, linking to the regiment’s home in Yorkshire. Unusual amongst British Army regiments, the badge lacks a crown. It was also the smallest cap badge used in the British Army.

Please see our other items for more original WW1, WW2 & post war British military badges for sale including other King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry KOYLI Regiment cap badges.