Tony, attached my Wessex Brigade and Wessex Regiment (Vols) groups for your interest.
Tim of course is spot on regarding the makers. Contemporary Wessex Vols would typically be marked Gaunt Bham or W M Dowler . . . but may well of course have earlier makers marks from Brigade back stocks etc. I have shown the bulk of makers variations with the Wessex Vols, however.
These include the silver examples, marked Gaunt London and Gaunt Bham. Alan is right, its more likely to be errors ( I don't believe they are found by any maker other than Gaunt) and I don't believe there are any records supporting their legitimate issue, i.e. for Warrant officers etc. However Gaunt badges are not 'generally' known for their colour errors (unlike LB&B) and the collars are also found silver. There are even less colour error collars in general too. So not completely impossible that they were bespoke ordered by a specific unit, but unlikely . . . however, they do exist.
C Company in 2nd Vol Bn carried over the Brandy Wine flash badge backing from The Royal Berkshire (specifically there is a hard red plastic backing). Additionally A Coy, 1st Bn wore the back badge of the Gloucestershire Regt.
The Wessex Brigade officers silver plated badge is marked Gaunt London. The Wessex Regt vols example is unmarked. Both of these are on horizontal ( east - west ) lugs.
Happy Easter all
Bess
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