Badge of the 31st Infantry of the Alexeyev Regiment Instituted 27 June 1911 Silver and enamel H 3 cm, w 3.7 cm Many regiments of the Russian army celebrated major anniversaries at the beginning of the 20th century. To mark these occasions, commemorative badges were ordered for men currently serving in the regiment. Such badges were usually designed by one of the regiment's officers and included emblems showing the regiment's history. The 31st Infantry of the Alexeyev Regiment celebrated its 180th anniversary in 1911. The badge's design consisted of a laurel and oak wreath, a symbol of glory and the eternal memory of those who had lost their lives, with the inscription ‘AI', a reminder of the fact that the regiment was derived from units formed during the reign of Empress Anna Ivanovna. On the reverse is a flat medallion containing a woman's portrait, a little piece of blue silk and rose petals.