Military Gorget

Description

Sponsors

This item is a part of the 1812 History digitization project. This project was made possible with the support of the Department of Canadian Heritage through the Canadian Culture Online Strategy.

Media Type

Object

Description

This copper gorget, dated 1796 to 1815, was worn by British officers as a decorative piece to signify rank. It is crescent shaped with a beaded rim and contains the cipher “GR”, which is enclosed in laurels and mounted under a Hanoverian crown.

Gorgets were worn around the neck, below the collar and were held in place by ribbon and rosettes. The gorget may be said to have been the last surviving piece of plate armour used in the British Army, with the exception of the cuirass, or breast and back plates, of the Household Cavalry. By 1684, the gorget was worn only by Officers and had become a badge of rank worn only when on duty. From 1743, gorgets were either gilt or silver, depending on the lace and buttons of the uniform. Gorgets were abolished by General Order No. 492, dated 2nd August, 1830.

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