Insignia of the Volunteer Battalions/Rifle Vols

[Peter Brydon]

It seems to me that a lot of very interesting stuff might be overlooked because if is being posted on threads that started off discussing completely different subjects. May I start a new thread to capture some the illustrations of fine V.B. insignia that are being posted ,under one thread.

Attached is a photo of an other ranks blue cloth helmet of the 4th V.B. Kings Liverpool Regt. Helmet a bit tatty but 100%

To answer another question on another thread ,most books have a few examples of Volunteer items but other than books specialising in a single regiment, I dont think there has ever been a publication ( fully illustrated ) relating only to volunteer insignia.

P.B.

[Peter Brydon]

Not mine,unfortunatly but officers helmet plates of the 18 Lancashire Rifle Volunteers ( Liverpool Irish ) and 5th ( Irish ) V.B. Kings Liverpool Regt.

P.B.

[KLR]

Peter is quite right, the threads get messy. I'm completely guilty in two instances, so reproduced here is what I wrote on another thread but is more relevant here !

In most cases VB Officer's helmet plates seem to have made the transition from QVC to King's Crown (in about 1902). VB Other Rank's HPs with a KC appear to be quite rare - so much so that I'm wondering if they were ever actually made / worn ! Did they keep the old QVC ones just for the next 6 years ? or did they wear something else ?

Following on from that, there appear to be only a few Territorial Force Bn officers HP's but no OR's.
Any comments / ideas !?
Julian

[Keith Blakeman]

Originally Posted by KLR

Peter is quite right, the threads get messy. I'm completely guilty in two instances, so reproduced here is what I wrote on another thread but is more relevant here !

In most cases VB Officer's helmet plates seem to have made the transition from QVC to King's Crown (in about 1902). VB Other Rank's HPs with a KC appear to be quite rare - so much so that I'm wondering if they were ever actually made / worn ! Did they keep the old QVC ones just for the next 6 years ? or did they wear something else ?

Following on from that, there appear to be only a few Territorial Force Bn officers HP's but no OR's.
Any comments / ideas !?
Julian

Good point Julian. Attached is a photo of the 1st VB Middlesex Regiment taken in Tottenham in 1907. All present are still wearing QVC plates.

[Keith Blakeman]

Here are a few of my favourite VB forage cap badges from the two Surrey regiments.

[Keith Blakeman]

More from Essex & Kent. Interestingly the 1st Essex has staple lugs associated usually with Helmet plate centres. A case of the regiment sourcing their badges from suppliers other than the major makers perhaps? Please don't ask why it's brass rather than whitemetal, the answer is I don't know. I was just as suprised to see Bosleys selling a brass 4th VB in their postal auction last week.

[Keith Blakeman]

Hampshire & Sussex.

[Keith Blakeman]

And finally a couple of singles from the Royal Fusiliers and Middlesex Regiment. Plenty more to source though.

I'd be happy to post some Middlesex Rifle Volunteers if anyone's interested?

[Peter Brydon]

Keith,

Please keep them coming,it is a pity that a lot of illustrations in publications like the MHS Bulletin were in pre digital camera days,some illustrations are almost unrecognisable.

I am attaching a photo of officers helmet plate of the 6th V.B. Kings Liverpool Regt which I believe to be 100%,but most interestingly the centre device and scrolls are gilt ,the rest of the badges being silvered as you would expect.

Any one any views why this might be the case ?

A senior officers helmet plate perhaps ?

P.B.

[KLR]

Nice collection, well done guys.

Another query - has anyone ever seen makers namjes on VB cap badges ?
I've only ever seen a photo of Fattorini (though they were usually enamel badges and odd things like VTRs) on an East Lancs VB (can't remember which Bn.

Another point is that I used to think that VB cap badges almost all had loops - they would have been a few years behind the Regulars. There are a few TF Bn cap badgesd with loops which I reckon were the original 1908 issues.
However, I've now seen a few VB badges with sliders (I even have a 6VB KLR with one myself).
What count has anyone else come across; badges known with both !?

Julian

[Keith Blakeman]

Originally Posted by KLR

Nice collection, well done guys.

Another query - has anyone ever seen makers namjes on VB cap badges ?
I've only ever seen a photo of Fattorini (though they were usually enamel badges and odd things like VTRs) on an East Lancs VB (can't remember which Bn.

Another point is that I used to think that VB cap badges almost all had loops - they would have been a few years behind the Regulars. There are a few TF Bn cap badgesd with loops which I reckon were the original 1908 issues.
However, I've now seen a few VB badges with sliders (I even have a 6VB KLR with one myself).
What count has anyone else come across; badges known with both !?

Julian

Julian,

I have only one with a makers name...1st Surrey Rifles KC Field service cap. Ludski (later to be Ludlow) London.

There are a surprisingly high number of VB's and RVC with sliders, quite often long but now quite pagri length, hence the amount of them you see cut down. I think they were made too long for the cap. Due to the high cost of VB's I'm not really inclined to buy two of the same badge but with different fittings but I'm sure they exist! I know the Bloomsbury Rifles KC comes with both.

[Keith Blakeman]

First up the London Rifle Volunteers Field Service Cap badges. 1st LRB, 2nd and 3rd, also the 3rd's larger glengarry.

[Keith Blakeman]

1st Surrey Rifles Field Service Cap badges QVC & KC. 1st VB East Surrey Regiment becoming the 21st London Regiment in 1908.

[Luke H]

Originally Posted by Keith Blakeman

First up the London Rifle Volunteers Field Service Cap badges. 1st LRB, 2nd and 3rd, also the 3rd's larger glengarry.

Fantastic collection Keith I'm very envious. I was wondering when did the 3rd RV change from the WM badge to the BM so commonly seen faked? Incidentially I've only ever seen those BM 3rd's with sliders should they actually be lugged?

Cheers ,

Luke

[Keith Blakeman]

There is a theme here as all the following Middlesex RVC with one or two exceptions were VB's of the King's Royal Rifle Corps & Rifle Brigade and were to become Battalions of the London Regiment upon it's formation in 1908. The remaining became Territorial Battalions of the Middlesex Regiment.

2nd South Middx- KRRC 2nd VB
5th West Middx- KRRC 5th VB
14th Middx (Inns of Court)- 2nd VB RB
17th North Middx- 3rd VB Middlesex Regiment (Later 19th London Regt)