Northumberland Hussars AKA The Noodles

Coquet · #1 27-10-2016, 05:07 PM

After a conversation with 'Leslie' (forum member) last week regarding insignia of the Northumberland Hussars I was going to put some pictures up on here of Noodles Badges. Only got 3 photographed today, but it's a start.

Not sure if anyone is interested in this stuff. Two people are anyway.

I don't have many so it won't take long. It might still get a bit erudite considering it is supposed to be my day job. Or perhaps not

This fist one is quite scarce. The Victorian army loved its cypher badges. This is 'NNYC' What??? Well, the Northumberland Hussars in their striking miner clubbing days were called the 'Northumberland and Newcastle Yeomanry Cavalry'

This was worn on the sabretache, which is a cavalry/yeomanry pouch.

This is made from silver, 70mm wide, 30m tall, two short threaded stalks on the reverse for fixing.

Coquet · #2 27-10-2016, 05:47 PM

Now this picture, of more recent and familiar 'Noodles badges', answers a question raised in the aforementioned conversation.

First point to note is that the Regiment served in the 2nd Boer War. For their service, in 1905, they were granted the battle honour 'South Africa 1900-02'

So.. anything you find for this unit which shows the battle honour must be post 1905.

These two badges then are a pre 1905 no battle honour cap badge (on the left) and a post 1905 battle honour cap badge (on the right)

The 'no battle honour' badge is scarce. Worth 5 times the other one. So our question was if the unscrupulous were to break off the scroll from the 'battle honour' badge would you not then be able to deceive the collector into thinking it was a rare 'no battle honour' badge??

Well, now we have them side by side we can see there is another major difference. The circular part of the badge that carries the title 'Northumberland Hussars' is a 'garter' on the older badge, with a strap end hanging down. The post 1905 it is a circlet, no strap end. So in theory, not possible to illicitly convert the post 1905 badge to an older one.

Coquet · #3 27-10-2016, 05:51 PM

People have argued for years as to what castle the badge portrays. 'Newcastle' some say. 'Alnwick' for others.

It is of course... Newcastle.

Coquet · #4 27-10-2016, 06:23 PM

Old photo interlude

Noodles with Maxims in South Africa, 2nd Boer War.

janwhin · #5 28-10-2016, 09:55 AM

Now I know I'm thick, but I'm not called a "Noodle". Well I don't think I am.....why, if they fought in the 2nd Boer War and got a battle honour in 1905. did they have "South Africa 1900-1902"? and why, oh why, were they called "Noodles"

Coquet · #6 28-10-2016, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Now I know I'm thick, but I'm not called a "Noodle". Well I don't think I am.....why, if they fought in the 2nd Boer War and got a battle honour in 1905. did they have "South Africa 1900-1902"? and why, oh why, were they called "Noodles"

'Noodles' has a few interpretations, but the two authors of NH unit histories, Howard Pease and Henry Tegner tend towards a derogatory origin. Seems quite common for the various yeomanry regiments in the Victorian era to get an unpleasant nickname. Expected I suppose considering some of their 'tasks'.

A jingle of the time refers to the local yeomanry:

'Blue bummed bumblers
Cock-tail tumblers
Fireside sowjers
Dor'nt gan to war'

(obviously pre 2nd Boer War)

Tegner suggests 'Noodle' as in simpleton.