British India: Bengal Artillery. Brass cap badge

An unrecorded 19th Century cap badge of the Bengal Artillery circa 1850-62

Reverse of insignia complete with distinctive sharp tipped slider fitting

The letter 'A' in the voided centre may (?) refer to 'Administrative', 'Arsenal', or 'Ammunition' 

Reference 'Indian Artillery 1748-1947 - Historical Records & Regimental Iconography of Indian Artillery (Ashok Nath, 2026)', on page 58, the author displays images of 9 x identical size / format brass badges of the Bengal Artillery, circa 1850-60, for battalions 1 thru 9, of the Bengal Foot Artillery, all with same voided 'Bengal Artillery' legends & voided centres that each have roman numerals in centre. Another similar badge is shown in the same source with identical voided legend, that has voided centre with letters 'HQ' in centre, this latter insignia recorded as being worn by the Headquarters Staff of each battalion.

Examples of the afore mentioned badges are held in the respective Indian Army insignia collections of the late Field Marshal J. L. Chapple (held at the National Army Museum) and in the Nath Foundation's Indian Army Heritage Collection in Sweden

Note all former European Bengal Artillery units were transferred to the British Army in 1862, none of which carried forward their 'Bengal' legacy titles in their subsequent nomenclature / appointments

An item of artillery insignia that straddles the last decade of service of the European gunners of the Bengal Artillery, the cataclysmic events of the Indian Mutiny, and the post-Mutiny 'Company to Crown' transition years

Un-recorded and extremely rare
 
Condition: GVF

Code: 24983