1st Volunteer Battalion Devonshire Regiment (Exeter & South Devon) - British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum

Rob Miller · #1 02-06-19, 05:52 PM

I have been trying to discover what type of cap badges was worn by the 1st Volunteer Battalion, I had suspected that after 1902 they wore a white metal standard Devonshire Regiment badge but that appears to be wrong.

This photograph of which I only have a laminated photocopy has been captioned ""E" Company, 1st Volunteer Battalion, The Devonshire Regiment, Officers and non-commissioned Officers 1907-8", but I don't know how accurate that date is?

Rob Miller · #2 02-06-19, 05:57 PM

Tim has a very nice set of insignia in his album, which appears to show two versions of the badge, the lower examples seem to have an element less at the top?

https://www.britishbadgeforum.com/fo...ictureid=76047

Interestingly an example sold on ebay today which appears to have a strengthener or repair around that point.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Victorian...rdt=true&rt=nc

Rob Miller · #3 02-06-19, 05:59 PM

Dead Spartan has a brass example, I don't know if this link will take you there, you may have to search using "Exeter".

https://www.deadspartan.co.uk/shop.php?ps=1#prettyPhoto

Rob Miller · #4 02-06-19, 06:03 PM

And then there is this webpage which indicates that similar badges were worn by the Exeter Tramways Corporation.

http://www.tramwaybadgesandbuttons.c...1/page291.html

I wonder if there is anyway of telling the difference?

Rob

Luke H · #5 02-06-19, 06:08 PM

Do you mean this one? https://www.deadspartan.co.uk/photos/62505.jpg

Alan O · #6 02-06-19, 06:20 PM

The officers badge is the City crest so the same as tramways in design. However being a VB the fittings may have been lugs as shown or blades. I would expect an officers' badge to be silver but again being VB one cannot be sure.

The ORs' side caps are likely to be badgeless as they do not wear collar badges.

Alan

Alan O · #7 02-06-19, 06:38 PM

Having seen the blown up photos, there is a side cap badge of some sort.

altcar73 · #8 03-06-19, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob Miller

Tim has a very nice set of insignia in his album, which appears to show two versions of the badge, the lower examples seem to have an element less at the top?

https://www.britishbadgeforum.com/fo...ictureid=76047

Interestingly an example sold on ebay today which appears to have a strengthener or repair around that point.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Victorian...rdt=true&rt=nc

These badges are fairly common and were worn by the "world and his wife" in Exeter from the 1800's through to the 1970's. They were worn by all uniformed Corporation staff. Buses, tramways, park keepers, toilet attendants, ambulancemen, fire brigade (early) and the police. They come in every conceivable finish you can think off from chrome to blackened brass.

Dave.

Rob Miller · #9 03-06-19, 09:50 AM

Hi Dave, they are not all that common, Exeter City Police did wear a badge with the same arms but the few examples I have seen were much narrower in shape. Do you have an image of any of the other users?

Rob

altcar73 · #10 03-06-19, 12:28 PM

Rob,

See the attached photos. I also have examples of the smaller Arms in brass (used by the fire brigade as a cap badge pre. 1941), and chrome (worn as a general badge by Corporation staff). Its unlikely that they would go to the expense of having differing sized dies sunk if the badge was to be worn on a cap, when a one "die" fits all would suffice. The large coat of Arms on the Exeter Police board was worn as a helmet plate/cap badge. However, in earlier days the smaller version was utilised as illustrated.

Dave.

Rob Miller · #11 03-06-19, 01:00 PM

Thank you Dave,

So the brass example listed on Dead Spartan is probably Fire Brigade or road sweeper?

I like the brooch fitting conversion on the white metal example that sold on ebay, its the sort of thing you often see on military badges but that doesn't really prove anything.

Rob

manchesters · #12 03-06-19, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by altcar73

Rob,

See the attached photos. I also have examples of the smaller Arms in brass (used by the fire brigade as a cap badge pre. 1941), and chrome (worn as a general badge by Corporation staff). Its unlikely that they would go to the expense of having differing sized dies sunk if the badge was to be worn on a cap, when a one "die" fits all would suffice. The large coat of Arms on the Exeter Police board was worn as a helmet plate/cap badge. However, in earlier days the smaller version was utilised as illustrated.

Dave.

Dave,

Your collection never ceases to amaze me. Once a again a superb selection of badges etc to a small force.

regards