This field covers, in the main, headdress badges of many different parts of the world, but also includes cross-belt plates, etc. An interesting example is the parallel existence of regimental badges for the British and Austrian armies, fighting on opposing sides in WW1, something unique to these two countries. Good reference books include: Kipling & King's two volumes on headdress badges of the British Army; John Gaylor's book on cap badges of the British Army; Ashok Nath's book, Izzat: Historical Records and Iconography of Indian Cavalry Regiments 1750-2007 (published 2009 by the Centre for Armed Forces Historical Research United Service Institution of India), a superb rendering of this extremely complex subject, beautifully illustrated. Ashok Nath's website is at: http://sites.google.com/site/anath53/home

The 17th Lancers gained eternal fame in the Charge of the Light Brigade, along with other Light Cavalry regiments, but their use of the skull and crossbones as an emblem goes back to the 18th century. According to King & Kipling's Head-Dress Badges of the British Army vol. 2, this exact design was a sealed pattern of 30th July 1927.

The Order of Vitez was instituted in 1921 by Admiral Horthy's government (1920-44) for distinguished veterans from WW1. It came with a small grant of land, sufficient to keep body and soul together. The original badge was pin-backed and worn without a ribbon. These miniatures were probably privately made jeweller's pieces.

This, I am fairly sure, is an Austrian example, though there is an outside chance that it could be generic, produced for both Austrian and German veterans. There is apparently a Hungarian example, very similar to this but with Hungarian wording on the cross and more detail, which makes it more likely that this badge is Austrian.

This may be merely a commemorative buttonhole for the first two years of the war, but the central position of the number 19 on a red ground within a white cross and the colour of the wreath in white metal suggests that this might be Archduke Franz Ferdinand's regiment number 19, a Hungarian regiment based on Gyor.

This could be a commemorative piece for any of the late Victorian Jubilee celebrations. Alternatively, it is just possibly an ordinary patriotic piece with no particular date. Her long reign spanned from 1837-1901, but my guess is that this was definitely made towards the latter end of it.

This shows the Spanish Royal Arms (probably those of Alphonso XIII, king of Spain from 1886 until his death in 1941 in exile in Rome) surrounded by the Collar of the Golden Fleece, all in enamel. These little badges may have been made to order by royalists in exile during the Spanish Civil War.

This has a German inscription to the effect of, 'Let your heart stick to God and your fists to the enemy'. It has a maker's mark, 'Kriegshilfs Bureau'. This badge (2.4cm across) would have been sold to raise money for the war effort. It is struck in gilding metal, with a black and mustard yellow (not as in photo) enamel finish.

This badge, with the logo 'Viribus Unitis', commemorates the early years of the war, 1914-1915 struck in a laurel wreath between the soldiers. The enamelled arms are those of Germany, Austria and Hungary.

This is a generic commemorative piece for the first two years of WW1: a platform with three swordsmen over a base of eagles scouring the landscape (for enemies). 'In memoriam eternum' is in relief round the edge, together with the dates in Latin numerals. The triple emblems of Turkey, Austria and Germany are over the central figure.

This magnificent badge is struck in gilding metal, which has then been electro-plated and enamelled. It shows the imperial double eagle with the Austrian coat of arms in the centre and the logo 'Algem. K.K. Landwehr-Abzeichen'. The Landwehr were the reserve units of the old Austrian infantry, based locally in the garrison towns.