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  #1  
Old 30-03-20, 10:58 AM
natal01 natal01 is offline
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Default Northern Rhodesia , maybe ?

Lockdown gives one the time to do fun things, like sort and resort badges.
I recently bought a few Northern Rhodesian badges which included this white metal crossed rifles in a wreath surmounted by an Imperial crown. I was told that it was given for the best shot in the force ( in this case the Northern Rhodesian Police) . I suspect that it is badge used by various forces in the British Empire. Can anyone throw some light ..?
The NRV shoulder title has been in the collection for a number of years. If you told me that it was for a small, relatively unknown unit called the Northern Rhodesia Volunteers, i would happily believe you, but I can find no such unit mentioned. Can anyone nail this down for me ?
Many thanks
Mike
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Old 30-03-20, 11:17 AM
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leigh kitchen leigh kitchen is online now
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The crown/rifles/wreath badge was discussed recently on the forum, albeit I don't think a white metal version was mentioned

https://www.britishbadgeforum.com/fo...ad.php?t=76713
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  #3  
Old 30-03-20, 11:22 AM
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gurkharifles gurkharifles is offline
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Hi Mike - there is a similar ( but not identical ) brass metal shoulder title shown in Renfrews Vol 1 - ( 541) - it is described as Northern Rhodesia Volunteers worn 1914>1925 - it's different in that its slightly curved - but I'd be pretty confident that you've got a different variant of it. Can't help you on the other one though. Cheers Tim
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Old 30-03-20, 11:25 AM
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leigh kitchen leigh kitchen is online now
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"NRV" - South African National Reserve Volunteers?
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Old 30-03-20, 11:36 AM
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Hi Mike, I agree with Leigh. National Reserve Volunteers WW2. Regards Andrew
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  #6  
Old 30-03-20, 02:40 PM
natal01 natal01 is offline
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Thanks for all the replies.
I now see that the NRV badge is the SA National Rserve of Volunteers and appears in Owen's book as 2179. Tim, it seems that Renfrew has got his badge wrong. It as also a SA national Reserve of Volunteers ( Owen 2178). This is a pretty common title in South Africa. Pity, I rather like the idea of a little known unit called the Northern Rhodesian Volunteers.
Mark Radford, in his excellent book, Service before Self, goes into some detail on Norhern Rhodesian Insignia. I see that , under Trade & Specialist insignia he shows Best Shot in the Force as being "Crown above crossed rifles in a scroll of Bay leaves" He doesnt say whether it is metal or cloth, but I rather like my badge as being that one given that most of the NRP insignia was silver coloured and it came with other NRP insignia. That said, the Colonial Police Forces often shared insignia , so I wouldnt be surprised if the badge popped up elsewhere in the Empire.
Keep well
Mike
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