2nd Hants Rifle Volunteers
 

Good Morning,


Quick intro my name is Richard and I live in Bournemouth, I was clearing the rear of our garden earlier this week and came across a badge that was buried, it is quite big ,looks like it could be a headdress badge or similar, would anyone be kind enough to clarify what to is, I think it dates from the 1800's?

Thanks

Richard,

Welcome, it a very interesting item, a Victorian helmet plate for the home service pattern helmet ( see picture of the type of helmet it would have been worn on )

The Rifles Volunteers started to form in 1859 and the Home Service pattern helmet was introduced in May 1878, so the badge would have been worn sometime during the period 1878 - 1881 which is when the Rifle Volunteers ( or at least the majority of them ) started to become Volunteer Battalions of the Line Infantry Regiments.

P.B.

Richard welcome,
Not my area of collecting but what find at the bottom of the garden! I wish mine would turn up a couple of Pals badges I'm after:eek: must go feel a spot of weeding coming on:D;)

Gerard

The 2nd Hants RV were a precursor to the modern Territirial army (ok Army reserves for the purists out there). As Bournemouth was in Hampshire until 40 years ago, the town recruiting for the Hants RV rather than the Dorset RV.

http://1rhamps.com/militia_ta/Volunteer.html

This site shows the history. It was the 4th Bn who were Bournemouth based.

I cant find a picture of a complete helmet of the unit but here is a picture of a sergeants tunic.

P.B.