1st Central London Regiment - British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum

manchesters · #1 04-10-23, 11:52 AM

Hello,

Can anyone provide an ID on this Brass Waist Belt Clasp that is on on old brown belt, military style but could be another organisation I suppose.

"CENTRAL LONDON REGT" on the female side and a '1' on the male side. No other markings.

I cosidered the old Cental London Rangers, forerunners of the 12th London Regiment but dosesnt quite fit the title.

Other options are a London overseas or CLB etc.

It will be for sale when identified.

best wishes

mike_vee · #2 04-10-23, 12:53 PM

AbeBooks has this :

Quote:

Guard Mounting And Sentry's Orders 1st Battalion ( U A V R ) Central London Regiment.

Published by 1st Battalion ( U A V R ) Central London Regiment, 1910

https://www.abebooks.com/first-editi...n/755620582/bd

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mike_vee · #3 04-10-23, 01:01 PM

UAVR - United Arts Volunteer Rifles ?

Found a document/book titled : "A record of the United Arts Rifles, 1914-1919"

Google link mentions :

Quote:

.. Central London Group, the new Army name for the old Central London Regiment. ... Battalion County of London Volunteer Regiment being retained.

https://archive.org/stream/recordofu...0pott_djvu.txt

From GWF :

Quote:

The United Arts formed part of the 1st Bn County of London Volunteers along with elements of the Kensington Volunteers. 1st Bn was part of the Central Group along with 2nd Bn - Inns of Court reserve Corps, 3rd Bn - Old Boys Corps and 4th Bn - London Volunteer Rifles

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manchesters · #4 04-10-23, 01:18 PM

Mike,

Thankyou, that all takes a lot of thinking about and further research to unravel.

I have heard of the 'United Artists' but know nothing about them.

best wishes

mike_vee · #5 04-10-23, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by manchesters

Mike,

Thankyou, that all takes a lot of thinking about and further research to unravel.

I have heard of the 'United Artists' but know nothing about them.

best wishes

They appear to be referred to as 'United Arts'.

IWM has their badge :

Quote:

badge, headdress, British, United Arts Volunteer Rifles

https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30077077

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manchesters · #6 04-10-23, 02:18 PM

Yes quite right.

This belt appears to be a 1914-1918 VTC item into which they, with others were absorbed in 1914 as I read it.

best wishes

Jelly Terror · #7 04-10-23, 02:21 PM

UAVR 2.jpg

JT

mike_vee · #8 04-10-23, 02:39 PM

From "A record of the United Arts Rifles, 1914-1919" :

Quote:

A badge had been designed for the Corps by Mr. S. J. Solomon, R.A., then an active member. This badge was worn by the Corps until its disbandment. The design, striking and artistic, has been called by the irreverant the " duck and skewer."

The whole book (with lots of photos) is available in 'flip' form.

https://archive.org/details/recordof...p?view=theater
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manchesters · #9 04-10-23, 02:43 PM

Thanks for the United Arts Rifles info, but isnt the belt another unit?

As I read it the Central London Regiments were formed as part of the VTC in 1914 from some existing units such as the UAR.

Am I understanding this correctly?

best wishes.

mike_vee · #10 04-10-23, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by manchesters

Thanks for the United Arts Rifles info, but isnt the belt another unit?

As I read it the Central London Regiments were formed as part of the VTC in 1914 from some existing units such as the UAR.

Am I understanding this correctly?

best wishes.

I was going on the title of the 1910 book :

Quote:

Guard Mounting And Sentry's Orders 1st Battalion ( U A V R ) Central London Regiment.

Published by 1st Battalion ( U A V R ) Central London Regiment, 1910

The belt may be post 1914 ?

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Jelly Terror · #11 04-10-23, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by manchesters

Thanks for the United Arts Rifles info, but isnt the belt another unit?

As I read it the Central London Regiments were formed as part of the VTC in 1914 from some existing units such as the UAR.

Am I understanding this correctly?

best wishes.

I think you are.

It seems (from Mike's link, which I have not yet read in its entirety) that the regiment was a Volunteer form of brigade, of which seven were formed in London alone, each Regiment averaging about 4,000 officers and men.

The VTC/VF movement is a fascinating part of British Great War history, the intricacies of which can often be confusing.

JT

manchesters · #12 04-10-23, 03:02 PM

Mike,

Well the 1910 date has me confused and possibly going off at a tangent.

So clearly the Central London Regiment existed prior to the VTC.

Possibly some sort of Home Defence set up in London??

Hope someone knows.

best wishes

Jelly Terror · #13 04-10-23, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by manchesters

Mike,

Well the 1910 date has me confused and possibly going off at a tangent.

So clearly the Central London Regiment existed prior to the VTC.

Possibly some sort of Home Defence set up in London??

Hope someone knows.

best wishes

'The First Annual General Meeting was held at the Haymarket Theatre on Sunday, 28th February, 1915, Sir Arthur Pinero being in the Chair. At this meeting the President, Chairman, Vice-Presidents, Grand Council, Treasurer and other Officers were re-elected and the bye-laws drawn up by Major Casserly adopted. Other matters discussed were uniform and rifle range facilities. The proposed formation of a Central London Regiment to consist of the United Arts, Inns of Court Reserve, Old Boys, Architects and London Volunteer Rifles was announced and at the next Committee Meeting on 5th March (being the first held at the Imperial College Union), Major Casserly reported that the Corps would be known in future as the 1st Battalion (United Arts) Central London Regiment'

JT

manchesters · #14 04-10-23, 03:12 PM

Well JT,

That confirms it for me.

Well done everyone.

regards

mike_vee · #15 04-10-23, 03:59 PM

The more I dig the more I feel the 1910 date is wrong , unfortunately the listing doesn't actually show it.

From a meeting on 28th February, 1915 :

Quote:

The proposed formation of a Central London Regiment to consist of the United Arts, Inns of Court Reserve, Old Boys, Architects and London Volunteer Rifles was announced and at the next Committee Meeting on 5th March (being the first held at the Imperial College Union), Major Casserly reported that the Corps would be known in future as the 1st Battalion (United Arts) Central London Regiment, the Regiment being a Volunteer form of Brigade, of which seven were formed in London alone, each Regiment averaging about 4,000 officers and men.

JT beat me to it !

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