1st Volunteer Battalion Devonshire Regiment (Exeter & South Devon)
 

I have been trying to discover what type of cap badges was worn by the 1st Volunteer Battalion, I had suspected that after 1902 they wore a white metal standard Devonshire Regiment badge but that appears to be wrong.

This photograph of which I only have a laminated photocopy has been captioned ""E" Company, 1st Volunteer Battalion, The Devonshire Regiment, Officers and non-commissioned Officers 1907-8", but I don't know how accurate that date is?

https://www.britishbadgeforum.com/fo...ctureid=169725

https://www.britishbadgeforum.com/fo...ctureid=169724

https://www.britishbadgeforum.com/fo...ctureid=169723

https://www.britishbadgeforum.com/fo...ctureid=169722

Tim has a very nice set of insignia in his album, which appears to show two versions of the badge, the lower examples seem to have an element less at the top?

https://www.britishbadgeforum.com/fo...ictureid=76047

Interestingly an example sold on ebay today which appears to have a strengthener or repair around that point.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Victorian...rdt=true&rt=nc

Dead Spartan has a brass example, I don't know if this link will take you there, you may have to search using "Exeter".

https://www.deadspartan.co.uk/shop.php?ps=1#prettyPhoto

And then there is this webpage which indicates that similar badges were worn by the Exeter Tramways Corporation.

http://www.tramwaybadgesandbuttons.c...1/page291.html

I wonder if there is anyway of telling the difference?

Rob

Do you mean this one? https://www.deadspartan.co.uk/photos/62505.jpg

The officers badge is the City crest so the same as tramways in design. However being a VB the fittings may have been lugs as shown or blades. I would expect an officers' badge to be silver but again being VB one cannot be sure.

The ORs' side caps are likely to be badgeless as they do not wear collar badges.

Alan

Having seen the blown up photos, there is a side cap badge of some sort.

I agree. Hard to see but I’d say it looks significantly smaller than the badges worn by the officers.

It might be the standard Devon collar badge worn by the regulalrs or militia.

Yes that’s very true and a good shout.

Although perhaps on reflection the collar may be a bit too small? As I recall they are very diddy indeed - probably smaller than a tunic button. So hard to say given how blurry the NCOs badges have come out.

Rob, I would say that the date is correct. The picture of the sergeant shows him wearing a King Crown cross belt badge. Tim.

After 1908 when 1st RV became T4, the Devonshire Regiment cap badge was worn.

Thanks for the replies,

Tim do you have any better pictures of the Exeter Arms badges in your photograph?

Rob

These badges are fairly common and were worn by the "world and his wife" in Exeter from the 1800's through to the 1970's. They were worn by all uniformed Corporation staff. Buses, tramways, park keepers, toilet attendants, ambulancemen, fire brigade (early) and the police. They come in every conceivable finish you can think off from chrome to blackened brass.


Dave.