Elementary my dear Watson !

[Peter Brydon]

There is an interesting Kings Liverpool officers home service helmet currently for sale on E bay:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1108752869...84.m1423.l2648

It was only when I looked at the victorian helmet plate carefully that I notices two things.Firstly the universal scroll says "The Kings Regiment" and not "The Liverpool Regiment ".

Secondly there are two small neat holes on the top of the wreaths just below the crown. These holes are for the additional scroll "The Kings " which was added to the design of the Kings Liverpools helmet plate in 1911 ( see Kipling and King 221 ) The additional scroll was placed immediatley below the crown.

At some time after 1911 the design of the Kings Regiment officers helmet plate was changed ,the title on the universal scroll becoming "The Kings Regiment" and so there was no need for the additional scroll.

It therefore appears that to a victorian back plate, a later garter and wreath has been added. This also appears to have been altered by the removal of the additional "The Kings" scroll and the replacement of the universal scroll from one saying "The Liverpool Regiment" to one saying "The Kings Regiment "

I am sure there must be a logical reason for the changes ( it would have been easier for the original owner to have bought a new helmet plate ) but I cant think or anything other than the badge being altered at least 3 times to keep it up to date but it still had the victorian crown.

Any thoughts appreciated.

P.B.

[Graham Stewart]

Very interesting aspect on wanting to keep something unique and I've had a similar experience myself this last week.

I've recently acquired three uniforms(No.1 Dress 'Blues' and two BD uniforms) all to the same man who served as a Territorial - firstly with 43rd R.T.R., then 6th(City)Bn,R.N.F. and finally 4/5/6th Bn,R.N.F..

He started life as a trooper and rose to become a CSM with 'A' Coy, 4/5/6th Bn, RNF and it's his BD blouses as a CSM with this Bn, which are the most interesting.

Both still have the 43rd RTR flashes on the shoulder straps, which have had the gm "N/ROYAL/F" shoulder titles placed over the top. Both blouses have the 50th Div flash. One blouse the white worsted 'Tanky' badge, the other has had the metal 'Tanky' badge and one blouse a black "R.T.R." lanyard, while the a/a CSM crowns on both have a red circle backing to them.

I spoke to John Sheen who served as a Territorial in the 1960's and John said "a lot of queer things went on as battalions were disbanded and amalgamated in those days".

Had these uniforms not come directly from the family, you would have thought they'd been made up to enhance their value, but they haven't and it's been an eye opener to me as to what lengths the Territorials went to in the 1960's to try and preserve their insignia traditions.

[Mercian]

Hello Peter, you may have seen this photo before. The Prince of Wales in Stockport 7 July 1908, with Captain Challoner 6th Bn Cheshire Regiment TF who is still wearing a helmet plate with a QVC. It seem's the Officer's wanted a lot of wear out of their kit.

[Peter Brydon]

Mercian,

No I have not seen that picture before but when I did have my Cheshire collection,one of the nicest items I had was a 1st Cheshire Rifle Volunteers officers helmet plate where the QVC had been professionaly replaced with a kings crown.

Peter