The 9th (East Norfolk) Regiment is distinguished by having as its badge the figure of Britannia. The origin of the badge has been debated, as has the date it was first used. The badge did not appear on the Colours until 1802 which would suggest that it dates from c1800. However, this light company cap of the 9th Regiment was discovered in 1990 in a car-boot sale, with a Britannia badge on its upturned front. WY Carman wrote about it in the Journal of the Society for Historical Research no. 286 (Summer 1993) and dated the cap and badge as c1783. The badge has the Hanoverian crown above, and the gilt plumed helmet crest shows a satyr’s face on the front.
In a speech made in 1848, General Sir Philip Bainbrigge told the 9th Regiment that Queen Anne had conferred the badge on Steuart’s Regiment (as it was then known) after the battle of Almanza in 1707. But a letter from Horse Guards dated 3 Mar 1800 says, ‘… I beg to inform you that H.M. some time ago was graciously pleased to confirm to the 9th Foot, the privilege of bearing Britannia as their badge, which I had the honour of notifying to Lt.-Gen. Bertie.’ (General Albermarle Bertie, 9th Earl of Lindsey, was Colonel of the regiment from Jan 1795 to June 1804). If the notification to Lt-Gen Bertie signified the official start date of the Britannia badge then it must have been after 1795, the year of Bertie’s appointment as Colonel of the regiment. In which case this light Company badge proves that the regiment was wearing it unofficially, at least, as early as the 1780s.
The figure of Britannia dates back to Roman times but was revived for use on coins, medals and badges when Charles II ordered a medal commemorating the 1667 Peace of Breda. The model for the face of Britannia was said to be Miss Frances Stewart, a prominent beauty in the Restoration court, and later Duchess of Richmond. The early figure has a spear and no helmet. The regimental badge differs from the Britannia on coins and medals in that she holds a sprig of laurel. This is not mentioned in Records and Badges by Chichester and Burges Short, or in Major Parkyn’s book on Shoulder-Belt Plates. I am assuming it is laurel (why not a wreath?), rather than an olive branch (Pax Britannia?).
