Third Norfolk Rifle Volunteer Corps

[mooke07]

Hi all,

Just looked at new album from Snowdrop 68 of Norfolk's museum and have seen a 3rd Norfolk Rifle Volunteer Corps helmet plate, pre 1901, white metal, which I have just uploaded to my Variant Infantry album. Snowdrop shows it on the blue cloth helmet and cased with other badges.

What is the best reference for VB helmet plates and badges? I have "Records and Badges of the British Army" by Chichester and Burges Short and K&K and Gaylor are both rather scant on the subject. Did Crown Imperial articles cover many of the VB badges?

Eager to learn more, thanks Snowdrop for pics of museum - looks a great day out, cheers Dean.

[Peter Brydon]

Dean,

There are a few books which cover the insignia of the Volunteers of particular counties for example :

West Yorkshire Rifle Volunteers by Dixon Pickup

East York Volunteer Infantry 1859-1908 by Roy Wilson and G.A. Collinson

Badges of the Worcestershire Regiment by Roger Bennett

The Staffords 1881-1978 by Guido Rosignoli and Jake Whitehouse (with line drawings of badges rather than photos )

( other members might be aware of others )

I am not aware of any books that cover the whole the whole subject in detail, there is a book "Rifle Voluteer Buttons" which was an MHS special number in 1996 by Howard Ripley and Denis Darmanin and that as the title says only cover Rifle Volunteer and not V.B. buttons.

There were a number of articles in the Crown Imperial magazines which contained some volunteer insignia and Ray Westlakes various books also shows examples of voluteer insignia.

I have a copy of "History of the Voluteer Infantry" by Robert Potter Berry published in 1903 but whilst it deals comprehensively with the formation of the volunteer and contains extracts from the various statutes and regulations governing the volunteers,it only deals with badges associated with Huddersfield.

I think the subject is probably too large for one book to cover all the volunteer insignia and I doubt if any one individual collector ( other than perhaps the late Hugh King ) has anything like a comprehensive collection from all the volunteer units to be able to put such a book together.

Bosleys auction catalogues usually contain some good illustrations of desirable volunteer items.

P.B.

[mooke07]

Many thanks for the informative reply P.B. I have a couple of Ray Westlakes books and only three copies of Crown Imperial that all contain useful articles on cap badges. I appreciate the exhaustive nature of the subject and champion the Forum for getting knowledge from members. Many thanks again, cheers Dean.

[Peter Brydon]

Dean,

I forgot the book "Military Insignia of Cornwall" by D.Endean Ivall and Charles Thomas which covers the Cornwall Volunteer but is also illustrated with drawings rather than photos of the badges.

Also there have been a couple of series of articles in the Military Historical Society Bulletins covering the volunteers.

These were- called "Some Badges of the Middlesex Rifle Volunteers" by Ernest Martin in the late 1950`s and a series of articles on the Kings Shropshire Light Infantry ( including insignia of the volunteers ) by Geoff Archer Parfitt in the 1960`s.

P.B.

[Fatherofthree]

Originally Posted by 8thfoot

Dean,

Also there have been a couple of series of articles in the Military Historical Society Bulletins covering the volunteers.

These were- called "Some Badges of the Middlesex Rifle Volunteers" by Ernest Martin in the late 1950`s
P.B.

Good afternoon Dean
Good afternoon PB

Strangely enough, I was at a local auction last month and in a lot containing a few old Bosley, Wallis and Wallis and other catalogues were 2 MHS Bulletins bound in hardback covers.

One of them was this particular bulletin, (the one mentioned by you to the Middx RVs.), the other in relation to "Women's war work with the army", by the same author.

The Middlesex article is both useful and informative, containing numerous pictures of RV badges.

Dean, if PB hasn't a copy of this and I can assist you using this article, please let me know.

When I get a decent camera, or in fact a camera, I'll be creating some albums which will include Essex VB items amongst others, which may also help you.

Regards
Brian

[mooke07]

Thanks Brian an P.B.

I am taking notes and will try and pick up the references that you have pointed out to me as I feel I have much to learn on the VRC.

It would be good if the images or information in MHS and Crown Imperial articles could be copied for private research which would be within the copyright restrictions. I would like to receive any scanned copies of such by email to dr_deano@hotmail.com. I do not suggest putting on the Forum as this will breach copyright and seeing as my day job is to protect and commercialise intellectual property including copyright I should know!

Please forgive my tardy response as it is now dawn chorus here and I posted these late last night, again many thanks and happy Easter, cheers Dean.