J.R.Gaunt WW1 Notts Yeo and T.A. badges

 J.R. Gaunt of London and Birmingham, probably one of the world's most prolific badge makers, and during the first world war, maker to the Nottinghamshire Yeomanry, and some of the war time Sherwood Foresters Territorial Battalions. 

The standard Sherwood Foresters badge was a two part nickel and gilt brass badge. Until recent years, it was thought that the one piece S/F badge was part of the 1916 war economy drive to speed up, and reduce the costs of WW1 British cap badges. Many regimental badges which were two parts, two materials were simplified to a single brass stamping. Collectors had thought that the single piece brass Gaunt S/F badge was part of this scheme.  Badge collectors have since concluded that at some point, Gaunt was contracted to produce one piece brass badges for Nottingham's Yeomanry and Territorial Battalions. This contract may have been paid for privately, as all examples carry the commercial "J.R.GAUNT LONDON" maker tablet to the back, this applied to the badge while heated to apply to the fastening loops. 

In the images, wartime Gaunt badges made for the South Notts Hussars, the Robin Hood Rifles, and Territorial infantry. It is not known how many were made, but all three of these are hard to find today, and if anything, the Infantry badge is the rarest. Also, a pair of S.N.H. shoulder titles, and a pair of the titles for the 7th Notts & Derby, the Robin Hood Rifles, both pairs Gaunt maker stamped. The last two images, a WW1 Officers cap badge in O.S.D. bronze. This is marked "J.R.GAUNT", it is not known whether there were Officers badge in the Gaunt contract, or whether this badge was purchased by a Sherwood Foresters officer, along with the rest of his kit.