The Royal Dragoon Guards Cap Badge: A Symbol of British Cavalry Heritage

Introduction

The Royal Dragoon Guards (RDG) was formed on 1 August 1992 by amalgamating the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards and the 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards. The new regiment inherited the histories and traditions of four earlier cavalry regiments: the 4th, 5th and 7th Dragoon Guards and the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons.

Its cap badge was deliberately built from predecessor devices. The Star of St Patrick, Cross of St George and Enniskillen Castle are combined with the regimental title and MCMXCII, recording the year of amalgamation.

Who Are the Royal Dragoon Guards?

The regiment began as a heavy armour unit and is now an armoured cavalry regiment specialising in reconnaissance, anti-tank warfare and fire support. It is based at Battlesbury Barracks, Warminster.

The four principal antecedent regiments remain visible in the squadron structure: A Squadron carries the traditions of the 4th, B Squadron the 7th, C Squadron the 6th and D Squadron the 5th.

Key Dates: A Timeline of the Royal Dragoon Guards

Year	Event
1685	The antecedents that became the 4th Royal Irish Dragoon Guards and 5th Dragoon Guards are raised.
1688	The antecedent of the 7th Dragoon Guards is raised.
1689	The 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons are raised at Enniskillen.
1922–1936	The 4th and 7th amalgamate as the 4th/7th Dragoon Guards in 1922 and gain the Royal prefix in 1936. The 5th and 6th amalgamate as the 5th/6th Dragoons in 1922, become the 5th Inniskilling Dragoon Guards in 1927 and gain the Royal prefix in 1935.
1992	The 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards and 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards amalgamate on 1 August to form The Royal Dragoon Guards.
1992–1996	The regiment spends its first four years in Germany with 20th Armoured Brigade.
1996–1997	Three squadrons deploy to Northern Ireland in 1996; a further squadron serves in Bosnia with Challenger tanks in 1997.
2004 & 2007	The whole regiment deploys to Iraq, including work mentoring newly formed Iraqi forces.
2010 & 2013	The regiment deploys to Afghanistan on Operation HERRICK.
Present	The Royal Dragoon Guards serves as an armoured cavalry regiment specialising in reconnaissance, anti-tank warfare and fire support.

Formation and Antecedent Regiments

Although the Royal Dragoon Guards is a modern regiment, its history stretches back to the late seventeenth century through four distinguished cavalry regiments. Understanding these antecedents is essential to understanding the badge.

4th Royal Irish Dragoon Guards

The regiment later known as the 4th Royal Irish Dragoon Guards was raised in 1685. In 1922 it amalgamated with the 7th (The Princess Royal's) Dragoon Guards to form the 4th/7th Dragoon Guards; the new regiment received the Royal prefix in 1936.

7th Dragoon Guards

The regiment later known as the 7th (The Princess Royal's) Dragoon Guards was raised in 1688 and amalgamated with the 4th Royal Irish Dragoon Guards in 1922.

5th Dragoon Guards

The 5th Dragoon Guards (Princess Charlotte of Wales's) dated from 1685. In 1922 it amalgamated with the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons as the 5th/6th Dragoons. The title became 5th Inniskilling Dragoon Guards in 1927 and 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards in 1935.

6th Inniskilling Dragoons

The 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons were raised in 1689 and brought the Enniskillen identity that remains visible in the modern cap badge. They amalgamated with the 5th Dragoon Guards in 1922.

Together these four regiments form the antecedent lineage inherited by the Royal Dragoon Guards in 1992.

Origins of the Cap Badge

Army Dress Regulations describe the badge in detail. An eight-pointed silver Star of St Patrick carries a blue circlet inscribed ROYAL DRAGOON GUARDS, with MCMXCII at six o'clock. Within the circlet is the red Cross of St George on white, surmounted by a gold Enniskillen Castle flying the flag of St George, with INNISKILLING on the scroll beneath.

The same regulations identify the provenance of the principal devices: the Star of St Patrick comes from the 4th Royal Irish Dragoon Guards, the Cross of St George from the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards, and the Enniskillen Castle from the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons.

Badge Symbolism

The Eight-Pointed Star

The eight-pointed Star of St Patrick comes from the cap badge of the 4th Royal Irish Dragoon Guards, identified in Army Dress Regulations as the senior antecedent regiment.

The Central Circlet

The blue circlet bears ROYAL DRAGOON GUARDS, with MCMXCII at six o'clock. The Roman numerals record 1992, the year of amalgamation.

The Watergate of Enniskillen Castle

The gold Enniskillen Castle device comes from the cap badge of the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons and preserves the Inniskilling strand of the regiment's lineage. In the modern badge it flies the flag of St George and stands above the INNISKILLING scroll.

St George's Cross

The red Cross of St George on a white field is inherited from the cap badge of the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards.

The Motto: Quis Separabit

Quis Separabit — "Who shall separate us?" — is an inherited regimental motto, but it is not written on the current cap badge. The badge carries ROYAL DRAGOON GUARDS, MCMXCII and INNISKILLING.

Operational Service

For the first four years after amalgamation, the regiment was stationed in Germany with 20th Armoured Brigade. In 1996 three squadrons deployed to Northern Ireland, and in 1997 a further squadron served in Bosnia with Challenger tanks.

The whole regiment deployed to Iraq in 2004 and again in 2007, including work mentoring newly formed Iraqi forces. It later deployed to Afghanistan in April 2010 and October 2013.

Today the Army describes the Royal Dragoon Guards as an armoured cavalry regiment specialising in reconnaissance, anti-tank warfare and fire support. Recent Army records also list deployments on NATO reassurance operations in Poland and Estonia and training support in Ukraine.

Collecting the Royal Dragoon Guards Cap Badge

Because the regiment was formed in 1992, the modern badge has a clearly defined period and an unusually well-documented official pattern. Army Dress Regulations give both the design and the principal rank-related size differences.

Officers' Badges

Army Dress Regulations specify a smaller 30 mm × 30 mm representation of the cap badge for officers and senior NCOs in the beret. The same smaller form is used as a collar badge in No. 1 and No. 2 Dress.

Other Ranks' Badges

The soldiers' cap badge is specified at approximately 45 mm × 45 mm. Current MOD clothing records describe the badge as anodised silver with the coloured and gold details of the approved design.

Staybrite Examples

An embroidered 30 mm × 30 mm version is also authorised for the side cap. Material and finish should therefore be assessed against the specific authorised pattern and order of dress rather than treated as a hierarchy of quality.

Maker's Marks

Maker's marks, reverse fittings and construction can assist with dating Royal Dragoon Guards badges, but they should be compared with documented examples rather than used alone.

Fixing Methods

Reverse fittings can assist comparison between issues but should not be used as a dating rule on their own. Repairs and replacements are possible, so fittings need to be considered with dimensions, material, die detail and provenance.

Presentation Badges

Presentation or commemorative examples may differ from ordinary service badges in finish, packaging or documentation. Provenance is more useful than appearance alone when assessing such pieces.

Provenance and Authenticity

Service records, photographs and regimental documentation can strengthen the provenance of an original badge. Early 1990s examples should be identified by documented pattern and construction rather than assumed rarity.

Displaying and Preserving the Royal Dragoon Guards Cap Badge

Original badges are best kept in a stable, dry environment away from direct sunlight and major changes in temperature or humidity. Mounting materials should be inert and non-abrasive, particularly when a badge is displayed alongside medals, photographs or other service material.

Precision Military Emblems produces officially licensed Royal Dragoon Guards display pieces using MOD-approved artwork.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was the Royal Dragoon Guards formed?

The Royal Dragoon Guards was formed on 1 August 1992 through the amalgamation of the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards and the 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards.

Why does the badge include the Roman numerals MCMXCII?

MCMXCII records 1992, the year the Royal Dragoon Guards was formed. Its inclusion makes the formation date an explicit part of the cap badge design.

What does the motto Quis Separabit mean?

Quis Separabit is Latin for "Who Shall Separate Us?" It remains an inherited regimental motto. It should, however, be distinguished from the wording actually carried on the current cap badge, which is described in Army Dress Regulations as ROYAL DRAGOON GUARDS, MCMXCII and INNISKILLING.

What is the Watergate of Enniskillen Castle?

The badge uses the Enniskillen Castle device inherited from the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons through the 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards. It represents the Inniskilling strand of the regiment's lineage dating from 1689.

What role does the regiment perform today?

The Army currently lists the Royal Dragoon Guards as an armoured cavalry regiment specialising in reconnaissance, anti-tank warfare and fire support.

Are Royal Dragoon Guards cap badges valuable to collectors?

Early 1990s issues, officer patterns and presentation examples should be assessed by documented pattern, construction and provenance. Market value varies and should not be inferred from age alone.

Amalgamation and Continuing Tradition

The cap badge is best read as a record of the 1992 amalgamation: the Star of St Patrick from the 4th Royal Irish Dragoon Guards, the Cross of St George from the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards, and the Enniskillen Castle from the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons, brought together beneath the title ROYAL DRAGOON GUARDS and the date MCMXCII.

Further Reading

• Kipling, A.L. and King, H.L., Head-Dress Badges of the British Army — the standard reference for British military cap badges
• Frederick, J.B.M., Lineage Book of British Land Forces 1660–1978
• The Royal Dragoon Guards Regimental Association
• The National Army Museum, London — nam.ac.uk
• The Imperial War Museum — iwm.org.uk
• The National Archives, Kew — nationalarchives.gov.uk

Officially Licensed Emblems & Heritage Displays

Precision Military Emblems produces officially licensed Royal Dragoon Guards display pieces using MOD-approved artwork.

Royal Dragoon Guards
View our Royal Dragoon Guards Cap Badge and our Royal Dragoon Guards Cap Badge Display Frame.

4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards
View our 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards Cap Badge and our 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards Cap Badge Display Frame.

The historical material above explains the service badge and its regimental context separately from the licensed display products.

Intellectual Property of the Secretary of State for Defence is used under licence. Every item is produced for commemorative and display purposes and is not an official issue military insignia.

About Precision Military Emblems

Precision Military Emblems produces officially MOD-licensed 3D-printed British military badge display pieces and framed heritage displays in Leicestershire. The Military Heritage series is researched from regimental, museum, government and institutional sources.

Related Military Heritage Articles

The Royal Dragoon Guards draws its lineage from some of the most distinguished cavalry regiments in British Army history. Readers with an interest in the regiment's heritage will find the following Military Heritage articles particularly relevant:

• The Royal Armoured Corps is the parent corps of the Royal Dragoon Guards and provides the organisational framework within which the regiment serves today. Our Royal Armoured Corps Cap Badge: History, Symbolism and Collecting Guide explores the corps that unites Britain's cavalry and tank regiments.
• The Royal Tank Regiment is a fellow regiment of the Royal Armoured Corps and shares the Royal Dragoon Guards' home within Britain's armoured forces. Our Royal Tank Regiment Cap Badge: History, Symbolism and Collecting Guide tells the story of the regiment that pioneered British armoured warfare.
• The 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards was one of the two predecessor regiments that amalgamated in 1992 to form the Royal Dragoon Guards, carrying the traditions of the 4th Royal Irish Dragoon Guards and the 7th Dragoon Guards.
• The 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards was the other immediate predecessor regiment and carried forward the Inniskilling tradition represented in the modern badge by Enniskillen Castle.
• The King's Royal Hussars is a fellow cavalry regiment of the Royal Armoured Corps with a similarly distinguished lineage, formed through the amalgamation of historic hussar regiments.