Gorget

Sir Philip Sidney wears a gorget for a portrait

A gorget is a type of armor designed to protect the neck. It is a feature of older types of armor, designed to protect against swords and other non-projectile weapons.

Most medieval versions of gorgets were simple neck protectors that were worn under the breastplate and backplate set. These neck plates supported the weight of the armour on top and many had straps attached that were for the shoulder armour plates to be fastened to.

Later renaissance gorgets were not worn with a breastplate and were instead worn over the clothing. Most of these types were beautifully etched, gilt, embossed, or enamelled and probably very expensive. Gorgets were the last form of armor worn on the battlefield.

In the Second World War, the military police of the German Army still used a metal gorget as an emblem. This was a flat metal crescent suspended in front by a chain around the neck. Following the German example, the Finnish Defence Forces still use a metal gorget as a distinguishing mark of the duty conscript of a company.

The red patches on each side of the collar of the tunic of a British army officer are called "gorget patches" in reference to this article of armor.

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