Eastern Bengal State Railway Volunteer Rifles

[asherp]

Can anyone give me more information about this badge.
Many thanks
Asher

[peter monahan]

The Railway Volunteer battalions were raised from employees of the railways, as 'Auxilliary' - militia/territorial - units of the British Indian Army. They tended to be quite large, unlike some of the other Auxiilary Force regiments and, unusually, often contained Anglo-Indians [mixed race] members, who were well represented in the railway work forces. They were used in 'aid to the civil power', ie: riot control, and were activiated during both World Wars for home defence.

Here is the history of the unit and its titles:

* Eastern Bengal State Railway Volunteer Rifle Corps in 1873
* Eastern Bengal Railway Volunteer Rifle Corps (merged with Northern Bengal State Railway Volunteer Rifle Corps) in 1882
* Eastern Bengal State Railway Volunteer Rifle Corps in 1884
* 12th Eastern Bengal Railway Battalion in 1917
* Eastern Bengal Railway Battalion in 1920

The title indicates that this badge dates from some time between 1873 and 1917. I strongly suspect that the unique fastening system means the badge was Indian made and not a British item. Aux. unts used both, depending often on the wealth of the regimental members. cavalry units, for example, recruited from 'upper rajahs' seem to have gone with English makers and often sterling. A nice and not very common badge. No idea what it is worth but other members may know and chip in.

[Piffer]

Originally Posted by asherp

Can anyone give me more information about this badge.
Many thanks
Asher

Thanks for sharing nice shoulder belt badge to the regiment. Piffer

[Piffer]

Here are some more AFI badges from a friends collection, a senior collector specialising on India:

(have his permission to post these badges in the forum).

[Piffer]

Here are some more AFI badges, Must say AFI badges are more aesthetic compared to the usual Indian badges.

[Piffer]

And yet another.... this board has badges related to the East Bengal State Railway Volunteer Rifles, including an early Helmet Plate.

[asherp]

Many thanks
I had been wondering what type of badge. There has not been much published on this part of the Indian Army.

[peter monahan]

Originally Posted by Piffer

Here are some more AFI badges, Must say AFI badges are more aesthetic compared to the usual Indian badges.

Agreed! I suspect that many of the AI units were not as constrained by budgetary issues as the regular army and, of course, wanted to cut a dash on parade days.

Thanks for IDing the badge as a shoulder plate too. I got so involved in the history of the Volunteers I fogot to say. [blush].

[gurkharifles]

Just acquired these which I believe are officers collars to the Lucknow Volunteer Rifles pre WW1. There's not much information around on the AFI badges - Cox shows the cap badge to this Regt - but says it is in gilding metal, but I recall Jamesmilitaria showing a nice white metal example of the badge. If anyone can shed any further light on them would appreciate it. ( I do know the Regt was redesignated as Artillery in 1917 - but I don't know whether the badge changed ).

[peter monahan]

As you say, info on AFI badges is scarce. This is only a guess, but as the badge does NOT contain the unit title per se and DOES have a battle honour, my bet is that it did not change.