WW1 Imperial Camel Corps Cast Brass and Enamel Cap Badge

Theatre made and sand cast with two original copper loops to reverse. Black enamel infill to title. In very good condition and scarce.

This is an example of an unofficial Imperial Camel Corps hat badge. Some, but not all, Australian Light Horse and Camel Corps units elected to wear unofficial regimental badges of their own design in place of the 'Rising Sun' general service badge. These badges were privately designed and purchased by Regiments or individuals; some were made to order in Australia or Britain, others were cheaply sand-cast in Egypt. The Australian War Memorial collection holds two other variations of hat badges used by the Australian and Imperial Camel Corps.

The Imperial Camel Corps Brigade (ICCB) was a camel-mounted infantry brigade that the British Empire raised in December 1916 during the First World War for service in the Middle East.

From a small beginning the unit eventually grew to a brigade of four battalions, one battalion each from Great Britain and New Zealand and two battalions from Australia. Support troops included a mountain artillery battery, a machine gun squadron, Royal Engineers, a field ambulance, and an administrative train.

The ICC became part of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF) and fought in several battles and engagements, in the Senussi Campaign, the Sinai and Palestine Campaign, and in the Arab Revolt. The brigade suffered 246 men killed. The ICC was disbanded in May 1919 after the end of the war.

Comm DaMc (452)

Code: 67418