Regular Battalion Officers Collar Badge 1888 to 1896

This is the second pattern collar badge to the regiment as per specification 1514 of 1888, records of which are contained in the National Archives reference WO359/5 p59.

The collar badge is a Long Bengal Tiger (tail curved over the back once with the tip pointing slightly upwards) and is made of gilding metal with 2 copper loops to the rear.  

This collar badge was used as a cap badge between 1893 and 1897. 

The introduction of the Field Service Cap (FSC) in 1893 led to the requirement for a cap badge that would fit the new head dress.  Until a new cap badge design was agreed in 1897, the York and Lancaster regiment, in line with other infantry regiments, used a left facing collar badge in the cap.  This is outlined in documents in the National Archives (reference WO359/5 p59), which relate to the second pattern collar badge and its use as a cap badge. 

It is worth noting that the Royal Bengal Tiger is similar to the Long Bengal Tiger with the main difference being that the Long Tiger has a shorter tail looped over the hind quarters only once whereas the Royal Tiger has a second loop in its tail.