Cap Badge - 5th Squadron (New Zealand) 4th County of London (King's Colonials) Imperial Yeomanry. It was worn on the slouch hat. It may also be a New Zealand Army collar dog. On the badge board it is mislabelled as "New Zealand Forestry". This badge was sold by Jim Purdy for $80.00 on e-Bay in the Spring/Summer of 2017. This badge was deemed irrelevant to the museum. The money was used to purchase relevant badges for the collection. In the year 1901, at a time when the Boer War was still dragging on and the British home garrisons were cut to the bone, a decision was made to raise a Yeomanry Regiment from overseas volunteers in order to bolster the home defences. This resulted in November 1901 with the formation of the grandly titled: 4th County of London (King's Colonials) Imperial Yeomanry (later King Edward's Horse) Imperial Yeomanry: A British volunteer cavalry force, growing out of a royal regiment of fox hunters raised by Yorkshire gentlemen in 1745 to fight the Pretender, Charles Edward. The members furnish their own horses, have fourteen days' annual camp training, and receive pay and allowance when on duty. In 1901 the name was altered to Imperial Yeomanry in recognition of the services of the force in the Boer war. The Regiment originally consisted of four (4) Squadrons:- A. Squadron - British Asians, (mostly Indian) whose Squadron badge depicted a large Elephant. B. Squadron - British Americans (actually Canadians) whose Squadron badge showed a beaver chewing a branch set against a maple leaf. C. Squadron - Australasian, (Australian & New Zealanders) whose Squadron badge was a kangaroo and tree fern set against a rising sun. D. Squadron - British African, (South African & Rhodesian) who wore as a Squadron badge, an Ostrich set against a rising sun. Note 1: There were very few New Zealanders living in UK in 1901 so the term "Australasian " was used to include New Zealanders in "C" Squadron. Note 2: This old English word Australasian, now rarely used, means, according to the Collins Dictionary, "of Australia, New Zealand and neighbouring Islands". In 1903 a fifth (5th) Squadron was formed in 1903 to accommodate the, by then, increased numbers of New Zealanders living in the UK. Their Squadron badge consisted of a single fern leaf (see above). Accordingly, C Squadron's badge was re-issued to display just the Kangaroo above a title bar reading "Australia". In 1905, the regimental title was shortened to the more simple "King's Colonials Imperial Yeomanry" and a less flamboyant head-dress was introduced in the form of a slouch hat with a lower crown bearing, on the left side turned up brim, a bunch of black cock feathers and a single smaller version of the "KC" monogram badge. In 1909, due the Crown Colonies having gained Dominion status, the term "Colony Squadrons" was abolished and of a consequence, the Squadron badges were made redundant. All ranks now wore the smaller "KC" badge on the slouch hat and the newly introduced khaki service-dress cap. Following the death of King Edward VII in 1910 it was decided that, due to the self governing dominions dislike of being referred to as colonials, the regiment be renamed: King Edward's Horse The King's Overseas Dominions Regiment This led to the regiment being commonly referred to by the initials KODR. A new badge was issued in White Metal depicting wreaths of oak and laurel carrying the scrolls: Canada, Australia, New Zealand, S.Africa and India above a title belt inscribed "KODR" 1914/1918 - During the First World War, the regiment served in France, Italy and Ireland but sadly to relate, due to the increasing mechanisation of warfare were often relegated to the role of mounted divisional messengers.