Victoria & St George's Rifles cord boss badge
 

Hi all,

This one is a little odd. It is only 27x18mm and is blackened GM with long wire threads pushed through a strip of leather for safe keeping of the wires I suspect rather than from a document holder etc. At first I thought it was a collar to the 9th London's Queen Victoria's Rifles but then I saw that the title strap read Victoria & St George's which didn't fit with what was in Churchill's book or a pair Keith Blakeman has for sale.

So searched some threads and didn't fit with cord boss badge of QVR but I found the reference to the precedent unit.

1st Middlesex (Victoria and St George’s) Volunteer Rifle Corps (previously 4th Volunteer Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps (KRRC). With a SA 1900-02 honour.

So that is a new one for me, cheers Dean.

I have a Rifles cap to the unit, badge on a black cord boss.
I'll find and photo it.

Thanks Leigh, look forward to that, best regards Dean.

Hurried photos, but here it is - same badge.
Well, it would be if it wasn't laying on it's side refusing to stand up straight.

That shows it nicely thanks Leigh - a keeper, cheers Dean.

Nice one, I haven't seen that one before, worn 1905-08.

Nice one Dean,

Fits my collection more than it does yours ?? lol ;)

Dave.

I got there first!!!!!!

Thanks Dave and Keith,

I am in this morning so if you drop around you can have it !

Cheers Dean - Honourary Australian tourism attaché - wonder if I get a badge?


Thanks for the dating Keith.

You're Sir Les Patterson?
Oh no, sorry, he's Cultural Attaché isn't he?

British badge in the colonies have to be cultured !

I would swap this item for something Durhams, Lincolns, Notts & Derby or Leicesters I don't have chaps.

Cheers Dean

Victoria & St George's Rifles cord boss badge
 

Greetings all,

I have just googled "Victoria & St Georges" and finished up joining the forum. This is my first post.

I can reliably inform you that this badge comes in WM also. In my case, the dimensions are very similar to the above and the badge has wires N/S, close to the extremities, so it appears clearly to be a boss badge. The badge is nicely struck and is presented as a medal on a black miniature ribbon with a red central stripe. The lower wire is removed and the upper is bent around to take the ribbon.

Should I restore it? I know the answer to that one but I'm not saying!

ATB

Jonathan

Thanks for this additional information Jonathan - that is most interesting. Would you be able to post a picture of the badge. I would not suggest restoration without seeing it and then with reservation, cheers Dean.

Victoria and St Georges boss badge
 

On the matter of restoration, your reserve is commendable. Rarely in my opinion does a restoration actually accomplish what it sets out to achieve.

Let me see what I can do for a photograph. I have misplaced my camera for the time being.

In the meantime my information allows me to advise that the Victoria and St George's traced ancestry to the Duke of Cumberlands sharpshooters from 1803 and the Royal Victoria Rifle Club of 1835. In 1853, this was the only legally constituted Rifle Volunteer Corps in the Metropolis. In the 1859 volunteer line up, the Queen Victoria's were 1st Middlesex RV and the St George's were 11th Mx RV. In 1892 they were amalgamated as 1st Mx (Victoria and St George's) RVC otherwise 1st VB KRRC.

At the time of our badge, their HQ was in 56 Davies Street, Berkeley Square. They wore KRRC uniform. They had a Cyclist (K) company of about 80 strong and a Mounted infantry company of 160 strong. There was a band and drums. They had a strong university and public schools uptake among officers, NCOs and men. There was a club, simply called "Our Club", which was a shooting and dining club exclusive to the Corps.

My source "The Volunteer Annual (Metropolitan Corps) 1903" Repr. Westlake 1988.

And yes, they did become 9th London QVRs in 1908

ATB

Jonathan

Victoria and St Georges boss badge
 

Still unable to find my camera Dean, but try dropping this into an Ebay search: 252264682389.

ATB

Jonathan