Helmet plate, other ranks, 4th (Royal Irish) Dragoon Guards, 1871-1914

White metal and brass in the form of a rayed star with the regimental number, '4', within a garter bearing the motto, 'Honi Soit Qui Maly Pense' (Shame on him who thinks evil of it).

This badge was designed for the new helmet introduced in 1871.Regiments of Dragoon Guards wore white metal badges on brass helmets, while regiments of Dragoons wore brass badges on white metal helmets. The helmets were worn for full dress, and were abolished in 1914 when full dress was withdrawn from general use.

This cavalry regiment was originally raised in 1685. It fought in many British Army campaigns including the Peninsular War (1807-1814), the Crimean War (1854-1856), Egypt (1882) and on the Western Front during World War One (1914-1918). In 1922 the regiment was amalgamated with the 7th Dragoon Guards to form the 4th/7th Dragoon Guards.