Cap badge, officer, 6th (The Prince of Wales') Regiment of Bengal Cavalry, pre-1906

Gilt metal badge in the form of straight Prince of Wales's feathers, coronet and scroll bearing the motto, 'Ich Dien' (I Serve).

Britain's failure in the 1st Afghan War (1839-1842) and the power struggles in the Punjab following the death of Sikh leader Ranjit Singh triggered the Bengal Presidency to increase its military forces, and on 31 January 1842, just two weeks after the last survivors of the Retreat from Kabul had made their last stand at Gandamak, Lieutenant William Henry Ryves was granted permission to begin raising the 8th Irregular Cavalry at Fatehgarh.

The Afghan War had also emboldened a rising in Gwalior to seek independence, triggering the Gwalior Campaign (1843), in which the unit earned its first battle honour, 'Punniar'. It soon after also participated in the 1st Sikh War (1845-1846), earning the further battle honours 'Moodkee', 'Ferozeshah' and 'Sobraon'.

The regiment was not directly involved in any of the events of the Indian Mutiny of 1857, and in 1861 it was renamed 6th Regiment of Bengal Cavalry. It went on to participate in the Egyptian Campaign of 1882, earning the battle honours, 'Tel el Kebir' and 'Egypt 1882', and the following year became 6th (The Prince of Wales's) Bengal Cavalry in honour of Albert Edward, or 'Bertie', the Prince of Wales.

During this period, they spent several years garrisoning the North West Frontier, which earned them the battle honour 'North West Frontier'. In 1901 the 'The' was removed from their title, changing it to 6th (Prince of Wales's) Bengal Cavalry, and in 1903 it was again changed to 6th Prince of Wales's Cavalry. The then Prince of Wales had become King Edward VII in 1901, and in 1906, the regiment's title was changed to 6th King Edward's Own Cavalry to reflect this.

From the Field Marshal Sir John Chapple Indian Army Collection.