Seventh British Military Badge Found Today!

[ANTIQUARIAN]

I’ve detected this farm site at least twenty times since the end of December in the hope of finding at least one more badge and today was the day! I have been carefully detecting in between the rows of corn and have ventured farther into the fields then I have in the past, I felt there had to be one more left. If not a complete badge then possibly the missing crown to the bottom portion I found back in December. I spent six long hours here today enduring the pain in my knee and back, isn’t it funny how a good find can take your mind off the pain darn fast!

I found this British Officers Horse Badge in a far corner of the field at least a half kilometer from the farmhouse; how it got there, I haven’t a clue. It was partially buried and still has some of the leather inside the mounting posts. Some of my other finds from today were an early tombac button, 3 more Isaac Campbell Loops (to-date I’ve dug 100+ at this site), a small brass flower (part of a brooch?) and assorted buckles. There were very few signals in the general area where I found the badge today; this one is definitely a mystery.

I have included a Google Maps shot of the site showing where all the badges have been found so far. I have identified on the map the location of the farmhouse and where the stone barn foundations are located in the overgrowth.

Thanks for looking,
Dave

 

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[The Patriot]

Most people would love to find just one but 7...WOW...several years back found 2 93rd regiment skako plates (boar war) and others have found 5 and that was a rush.... amazing...did you do the reasearch on the guy?

 

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[ARC]

Anti Q...

This is an outstanding "save"...

This is a prime example of a great piece of history that has surfaced on its own...

BUT exposed to the elements now...

This is a save from certain destruction... by the elements and or... the plow... bush hog etc...

WHO SAYS MD'S ARE NOT SAVING OUR PAST ?

prime example.

With material... OUTSTANDING.

HEH !!!

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

You have become Master of the Badges Dave ! You are saving history and that is just GREAT ! You are right about the pain , it just seems to go away while the digging is going on . After the digging , that's a different story

Glen

Thanks for your post Glen!
This site is scheduled to have home built on it in the next few years, so anything I can save is a bonus.

The pain in my knee turns out to be a torn meniscus, which means orthopedic surgery in the near future.
Dave

I'm not an expert but I believe that small flower may be a Tudor rose, also possibly British military. The tudor rose usually has 5 petals like yours. Incredible finds. Congratulations.

This is a very interesting observation gheenoe, I might have to post it in the 'Whatsit Forum' to see if it might actually be military related.

Thanks for your post,
Dave

Looks like you got a little of the hat with the hat badge. Awesome find!

It most likely came from the chest strap of the horse, it identified the rider as an officer.
See the pics at the bottom of this thread.
Dave

Great finds! What is an Isaac Campbell loop??

Thanks for your question Eric!
These brass knapsack loops were made by the Isaac Campbell Company in England and were attached to the knapsacks used by the British Military in the Victorian period.

The loops gained wider recognition in the US, as the IC company sold their British-made knapsacks to the Confederate Army during the US Civil War.
Dave

I KNEW IT, I KNEW IT, THAT YOU WOULD POST SOMETHING NEAT AGAIN. DAMN I LOVE THOSE BADGES YOU JUST GO AHEAD AND SEND ME ONE SINCE YOU PROBABLY GOT 15 OR SO AND YOU WONT EVEN KNOW THAT YOU GOT RID OF IT. HECK OF A SITE YOU ARE DIGGING AT. MY JAW IS OUT OF ALIGN FOR GHAWKING . KINDA HUNTING I HOPE TO GET INTO ONE OF THESE DAYS , OKAY MY EMAIL IS READY NOW PICK OUT ONE AND LETS GET IT SENT. QUARRIAN THATS SOME NICE RELICS......ZUTPHEN

Thanks for your post sutphin!
All I can say is, I got very lucky when I got permission to detect this property last year.

I would've been happy just finding all of the relics lost by it's users over the past 200 years... the badges and loops are definitely as bonus!
Dave

You are out of control my friend. Just amazing. Congrats buddy

Thanks very much Abe!

I'd still trade one of these badges and 25 of the loops for one of those beautiful colonial spoons you found on the island my friend!
Dave

very cool you've found another, I wonder why they all seem to be near the perimeter of that field?

great hunt, love the old colonial stuff!!

Thanks for your post Chris. That's just one of at least a dozen questions I have regarding what's been found at this site!
It's the latest find that has my mystified, as to how far away it was found and that when it was lost it still had it's leather straps attached?

I always felt they might be doing some sort of 'recycling or re-purposing' of military leather here.
But seeing as I found this latest badge so far from the others, makes me think this piece was lost while it was still on a horse?
Dave

Very great finds (that's South Jersey for great finds) Love the map and other photos. Maybe I'll do that with my lake (next year)

Thanks for your post Brad!
I wanted to give everyone a bit of perspective on the spread of the breastplates from this site.
The IC Loops have been found all over the site, but at least 50% came from within 100' of the barn foundations.
Dave

That's wild. Even a encampments you don't find that many of a certain item? Was there a badge mfg. company there LOL.

Likely they were re-purposing / recycling the leather harnesses, the brass hardware was just junk to them.
The settlers of this site were verterans of the War of 1812 and came here from UPstate New York in 1815.

So there's definitely a British military connection here.
Dave

Dave,

Some real nice ground you have there,do they work it still?


GOD Bless

Chris

Hi Chris!
Yes, the land is still farmed by someone in the area.
They seem to work most of the land in the surrounding area.

Best of luck to you,
Dave

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

That's easy to answer, Dave doesn't detect in the middle of the fields just the first 50 ft of the edges why? Just imagine what could be out there further out or in the middle!

Just ribbing you Dave
Congrats on the smashing example of another badge with the attached mounts that still has the leather attached, now that's very cool! It was great getting the text yesterday showing off the badge it was the highlight of my day after doing the landscaping duties on the island.
Great day out for you buddy and come fall you should try further out in the field. Lol

Isn't it funny how most of our best finds often come from the periphery of the fields.
I thought you would like to be the first to see it Jim, considering how hard we worked the fields down your way.

I think I'll take Steve of PA's advice and venture into the field in the other side of the hedge row.
Dave

Another great badge save! Congrats! You are the official badge finder of the year, in my book!
They were staying close to the tree line if the area is pretty much the same now as then. Look outs or waiting in ambush?
Unless the dirt from the field was dumped along the edges.

Thanks for your post Karen!
I was thinking the very same thing, that I should investigate the overgrowth close to where I found this badge.

Who knows, maybe they were dumping the trash from the farm in this small gully.
Dave

Very nice find... again! Congrats.

Thanks... again Tom!

Very cool, makes you think there must be more!

I've been hoping there might be more for the past 6 months Cru.
Unfortunately, now I have to keep going back until I find another one!
Dave

Congrats on another badge Dave! Looking at your aerial shot, I wonder if you have tried the adjacent field, on the other side of the tree line, upper left corner of your picture?

I did try the field in the 'upper left corner' back in the early spring, although I only spent and hour there.
It was very muddy and difficult to keep my footing, I did find a few of the numbered aluminum tree tags, so maybe the finds did spread to this field?

Thanks for reminding me and for the advice buddy,
Dave

That's 7 Reasons to keep digging in that area ... very nice Dave

I definitely hear you my friend!
Best of luck to you too.
Dave

Amazing finds there. Could you be as old as me with back & Knee pain and still hunt now and then? I am 83 now .but I can detect some.but getting up and down is something else.

I can appreciate what you're saying Mr Thrifty! I'm only 51, but I've worked in physical outdoor jobs for the past 25 years and we're not getting any younger!

I tore the meniscus in my left knee in January jumping out of the back of my truck and twisting it on ice when I landed.
I hope to have the surgery done on it later this year.
Take care my friend and best of luck to you,
Dave

 

[worldtalker]

Hi Chris!

Yes, the land is still farmed by someone in the area.
They seem to work most of the land in the surrounding area.

Best of luck to you,
Dave


Well...every year they plough...new finds. Best of hunting dude!

 

[ArDirtSlinger]

Awesome find and Save!!! Congrats!!

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Well...every year they plough...new finds. Best of hunting dude!

I look forward to the next time they deep plough Chris!

Awesome find and Save!!! Congrats!!

Thanks very much for your post ArDirtSlinger!
Best of luck to you,
Dave

 

[UnderMiner]

Those are so cool looking! Great save!

 

[releventchair]

Stunning recoveries, congrats!
Wondering if tree line existed back when items were discarded/dropped and shade relates?

 

[northwolf]

Fantastic great day

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Anti Q...

This is an outstanding "save"...

This is a prime example of a great piece of history that has surfaced on its own...

BUT exposed to the elements now...

This is a save from certain destruction... by the elements and or... the plow... bush hog etc...

WHO SAYS MD'S ARE NOT SAVING OUR PAST ?

prime example.

With material... OUTSTANDING.

HEH !!!

View attachment 1175988

Thanks for your post ARRC, this is one of my favourite pics too!
When I find a relic exposed like this in the field, I think about how many horses, tractors and plows have gone over this and remained unnoticed for 140+ years!

I'll post a couple of pics comparing some of the other badges I've found here. Each piece, I think is very different in the casting and construction of how they were made.
This most recent example is a heavy cast and thicker than the others, maybe this means it's older?
I'm also not going to seal this one with the usual beeswax & mineral oil that I've used on all the others, I want to leave it as is to show what they all looked like when found.

Best of luck to you my friend,
Dave

Those are so cool looking! Great save!

Thanks buddy, congrats again on your curbside finds!

Stunning recoveries, congrats!
Wondering if tree line existed back when items were discarded/dropped and shade relates?

That's an interesting thought and I can honestly say I never considered this?
Dave

Fantastic great day

Thank you Sir!
Best of luck to you in Italy!
Dave

 

[pepperj]

Great looking mitt full, I'm torn on which look I like better. Kind of nice having one in the original field patine intact though. Congrats once again Dave on the latest one it's a beauty.

 

[Gridwalker306]

That's crazy you keep finding those, you have quite the collection! Historically they are very cool, and they are really nice to look at!

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Great looking mitt full, I'm torn on which look I like better. Kind of nice having one in the original field patine intact though. Congrats once again Dave on the latest one it's a beauty.

Thanks very much Jim!
Hope we can get together again soon,
Dave

That's crazy you keep finding those, you have quite the collection! Historically they are very cool, and they are really nice to look at!

Thanks again for your post Cache, each piece has a different look due to the ground action on the metals.
I'm glad I left this one the way I found it, it's cool to compare them side by side.
Best of luck to you J!
Dave

 

[HEAVYMETALNUT]

another one? holy crap! how many does that make now?

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

another one? holy crap! how many does that make now?

Thanks for your post Dave, great to hear from you again my friend!
This makes 7 badges total so far... 5 martingales/badges & 1 knapsack badge from this site and 1 martingale from a site in Eastern Ontario.
Hope you're doing well bud, always look forward to your posts!
Dave