Post 1908 7th Battalion Hampshire Regiment 'Stirrup' Other Ranks Brass Collar Badge

7th Hants Regimental OR's brass collar badge on lugs. VGC. Scarce.

Ref: 'Regimental Badges' by Major T.J. Edwards

“THE "STIRRUP" has nothing to do with horse riding, but is a metal gauge in the shape of a stirrup, which was once used to measure dogs in the New Forest. At present it is chained to the wall in the old Verderers' Hall in The King's House at Lyndhurst.

Traditionally, it is supposed to be King Rufus's stirrup and that any dog that could get through it had to be expedited? That is have the three middle claws of its front paws removed to prevent it from running fast enough to chase deer. The actual measurements are: From the "foot rest" to top of arch 6.1/2 in., width of "foot rest" 9.1/2 in. From this it will be seen that quite small dogs could not get through. The "stirrup" is, in fact, of early Tudor pattern. Under the Forest Laws no dogs were allowed in the Forest, but as in those days some of the Forest inhabitants were not "quite nice," people were allowed to keep a mastiff in the Forest for personal protection, all of which had to be expeditated under the Lawing of Dogs.

Code: 1797