Badges for Essex Rifle Volunteer units - British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum

Expat Yeoman · #1 06-01-18, 02:34 AM

The thorny question of badges for RVs again...

I'm trying to work out a list of what headdress badges are known for Essex Rifle Volunteer units. There were 24 units but I doubt that many had unique badges and probably wore the generic badge. I've also seen quite a few pouch badges but I'm only collecting headdress so can discount those.

The ones I have seen so far, either from KK or photos / physical examples are:

- Essex Rifle Volunteer Corps, 1st Bn Helmet Plate
- Essex RVC, KK1807
- 4th RV
- 6th Essex RV shako plate
- 9th (Silvertown) RV shako plate
- 19th (Epping) RV

Are there any other headdress items that I can add to that list?

Many thanks, Michael

Wmr-RHB · #2 06-01-18, 11:04 AM

I can not contribute any knowledge about which badges were worn by which units, but I see a source of possible confusion because you have no dates (years) added to your list and it might be that other have different ideas then you about some of the units you do not fully identify.

E.g.

The 4th Essex RVC of 1859 on consolidation in 1880 became 'A' and 'B' companies of 4th Essex RVC and that was renumbered 2nd Essex RVC later the same year.
(and there was another 2nd Essex RVC 1859-1880)
(and there was another 4th Essex RVC 1880-1883, see below)

The 9th Essex RVC of 1860 was not touched by the general consolidation of 1880, but it was renumbered 4th Essex RVC later in the same year.
(and there was the above mention 4th Essex RVC from 1859-1880)
(and no, there was no 9th Essex RCV after 1880)

I hope you understand my concern.

Fatherofthree · #3 06-01-18, 09:54 PM

Good whatever time it is Michael.

Hope all is ticketyboo.

I'll PM you later today or tomorrow and try and link you into my pictures of Essex RV headdress badges.

Regards

Brian

Expat Yeoman · #4 07-01-18, 06:23 AM

Henk, point taken. Let me go about it the other way then and show the badges I have or have seen and validate the date ranges that I believe apply? And from there perhaps other examples can then be added to go on the list.

Having tried to unpick the evolutions from Westlake this morning there are some very short lived units e.g. 14th Manningtree and 22nd Waltham Abbey where I could assume the generic badge was worn - but then Westlake points out that there are badges for some units that never ever got formal approval! So seeking to establish what is known for sure.

This is all new ground for me!

Expat Yeoman · #5 07-01-18, 06:25 AM

First up, Silvertown RV.

Fatherofthree has an example in his album. http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...ictureid=68271

Based on that I believe this is the renumbered 9th RV now 4th RV in existence 1880 - 1883 (or could it be as the 9th 1860 - 1880? or both?)

Expat Yeoman · #6 07-01-18, 06:28 AM

Essex Rifles 1st Bn Helmet Plate - rifle volunteers or something else (militia)?

No idea on this one.

There's also an Essex Rifle Volunteer Corps HP, same design apart from the strap wording and it has a "1" above the bugle.

Expat Yeoman · #7 07-01-18, 06:32 AM

6th RV (Colchester).

Believe this to be the badge worn 1860 - 80.

Expat Yeoman · #8 07-01-18, 06:34 AM

19th (Epping) RV which I believe was 1860 - 72.

Keith Blakeman · #9 07-01-18, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Expat Yeoman

19th (Epping) RV which I believe was 1860 - 72.

This could also be a 19th Middlesex RV shako badge. There’s an illustration in Ron Handley's book The First London’s.

Wmr-RHB · #10 07-01-18, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Expat Yeoman

Henk, point taken. Let me go about it the other way then and show the badges I have or have seen and validate the date ranges that I believe apply? And from there perhaps other examples can then be added to go on the list.

I have tried to mold Westlake into some tabularic form. The results are here:
The Rifle Volunteers from 1859 to 1880
It is a PDF. Scroll down to 12. Essex or use the search function of your PDF reader.
Maybe it helps.

Peter Brydon · #11 08-01-18, 12:49 PM

I dont know if this might be of interest:

https://www.dnw.co.uk/auction-archiv...&lot_id=265643

P.B.

Expat Yeoman · #12 09-01-18, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Brydon

I dont know if this might be of interest:

https://www.dnw.co.uk/auction-archiv...&lot_id=265643

P.B.

Many thanks Peter. That lot has the generic RV badge that I thought would be worn in the absence of a specific badge. From info Fatherofthree has kindly shared though, it looks like the majority did have a specific badge. The wants list has suddenly got a lot longer, and I can't imagine they're the most common of badges out there...!

Expat Yeoman · #13 09-01-18, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keith Blakeman

This could also be a 19th Middlesex RV shako badge. There’s an illustration in Ron Handley's book The First London’s.

Thanks Keith.

My example came from a respected Essex collector (with a son who used to work at the Essex Regt museum..) so I'm pretty sure it is an Essex one, but am intrigued that the same pattern could be used by another unit too.

Expat Yeoman · #14 09-01-18, 12:46 PM

Thanks Henk for your link, that is very helpful.

I had tried to do something similar from Westlake but as a graphic - have attached, hopefully got it there or there abouts!

Expat Yeoman · #15 09-01-18, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fatherofthree

Good whatever time it is Michael.

Hope all is ticketyboo.

I'll PM you later today or tomorrow and try and link you into my pictures of Essex RV headdress badges.

Regards

Brian

Brian, huge thanks to you for the photos you sent me. Have replied back to your message but just to add a public thank you for your help.

Michael