Material: White metal
Size: 40 mm w x 45 mm h
Description: This twentieth-century British military cap headdress insignia features the distinctive, overlapping left-profile busts of Mars, the Roman god of war, and Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom and the arts. Mars is positioned in the foreground wearing a highly decorative, classical crested Greek helmet, while Minerva rests just behind him. Below their detailed curls, a stylized flowing ribbon scroll proudly bears the embossed unit title "ARTISTS RIFLES". This particular specimen is die-struck in white metal and features a high-shine chrome finish. The reverse is completely unmarked and features two wire loop lugs joined by a retaining cotter pin, which was configured specifically for securing the emblem to a peaked cap or beret.
Circa: 1880-1937
Notes:
The Artists Rifles, formed in 1859 from London's artistic and professional circles, became part of the Territorial Force in 1908. Its unusual twin-profile design draws on classical imagery of war and wisdom, and the regiment later became especially associated with officer training during the First World War.
In 1937, this regiment became part of the Prince Consort’s Own Rifle Brigade. The regiment was not deployed during the Second World War, functioning again as an Officers Training Corps throughout the war. It was disbanded in 1945, but reformed in the Rifle Brigade in January 1947 and transferred to the Army Air Corps in July as the 21st Special Air Service Regiment (Artists Rifles).