Description
British WW2 Durham Light Infantry Cap Badge
The cap badge worn from 1901 until 1968 underwent a notable alteration with the transition to the Queen’s crown in 1952. The lineage of this emblem traces back to the formation of the senior predecessor Regiment in 1756, initially designated as the “2nd Battalion 23rd of Foot (Royal Welch Fusiliers).” By 1758, it gained autonomy as the 68th Regiment of Foot under the leadership of Colonel John Lambton. Rebranded as the 68th (Durham) Regiment of Foot in 1782, it assumed the mantle of Light Infantry in 1808. By 1812, it was titled the 68th Foot (Durham Light Infantry), distinguishing itself with the distinctive strung bugle emblem, characteristic of Light Infantry regiments.
Meanwhile, the junior predecessor emerged in 1826 under the auspices of the Honourable East India Company as the 2nd Bombay European Regiment, later rebranded as Light Infantry in 1840. Crown control was asserted in 1859, and by 1861, it was integrated into the British Army as the 106th Foot (Bombay Light Infantry), distinguished by a badge featuring a bugle encircled by a wreath beneath a curved Victoria crown.
The 1881 Cardwell/Childers reforms saw the fusion of the 68th and 106th, giving rise to the Durham Light Infantry. Post-1898, the badge evolved to feature an embellished strung bugle adorned with the letters DLI amid the strings, crowned by a flat-topped Victoria crown. Subsequent modifications included the adoption of an Imperial (King’s) crown in 1901 and the transition to a Queen’s crown in 1952.
In 1958, the Regiment joined the Light Infantry Brigade, incorporating the Brigade badge. The evolution culminated in 1968 when the Brigade transformed into The Light Infantry, a substantial Regiment, with the DLI assuming the role of its 4th Battalion. However, the disbandment of the 4th Battalion in 1969 marked the end of the Durham Light Infantry’s existence.
