Original British Victorian Era 2nd Dragoons Royal Scots Greys Brass Helmet Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. The Royal Scots Greys was a cavalry regiment of the British Army from 1707 until 1971, when they amalgamated with the 3rd Carabiniers (Prince of Wales’s Dragoon Guards) to form The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers and Greys).

The regiment’s history began in 1678, when three independent troops of Scots Dragoons were raised. In 1681, these troops were regimented to form The Royal Regiment of Scots Dragoons, numbered the 4th Dragoons in 1694. They were already mounted on grey horses by this stage and were already being referred to as the Grey Dragoons. In 1707, they were renamed The Royal North British Dragoons (North Britain then being the envisaged common name for Scotland), but were already being referred to as the Scots Greys. In 1713, they were renumbered the 2nd Dragoons as part of deal between the establishments of the English Army and Scottish Army when they were being unified into the British Army. They were also sometimes referred to, during the first Jacobite uprising, as Portmore’s Dragoons. In 1877, their nickname was finally made official when they became the 2nd Dragoons (Royal Scots Greys), which was inverted in 1921 to The Royal Scots Greys (2nd Dragoons). They kept this title until 2 July 1971, when they amalgamated with the 3rd Carabiniers, forming the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards.

This helmet is made of brass with large helmet plate to front bearing a large number “2” surrounded by “HONI SOIT QUI MALY PENSE” (Evil to him who evil thinks). The helmet comes complete with brass chin scales however the rosette cockades at the ears are silver replacements.

The liner is absent however a leather head band restoration is present. The original plume is of red horsehair and the helmet shows use with a few dings to the brass shell, but overall in nice collectible condition, does from the end of the 19th century.