Kent Volunteer Fencibles - E.K.V.R.

[Hawthorn]

Hopefully some of you may find this an interesting photographic postcard showing a Volunteer Kent Unit.

Having studied the cap badges I believe them to be for the Kent Volunteer Fencibles however the reverse of the card details the Unit as B Company, No 1 Platoon, E.K.V.R. (East Kent Volunteer Reserve?)

Although its difficult to fully make it out the bass drum bears the Horse of Kent within a circlet with 'M.K.B.' on it, any suggestions welcome re identification and deciphering the other details?

The two Officers and the Warrant Officer wear different cap badges which I have not yet positively identified.

The clothing of the young boys seated at the front is also quite interesting in that one wears a full uniform matching that of the adults, the lad second from the right wears a very small Kent Horse style cap badge and the boy second from the left wears an unidentified lapel badge.

The light machine gun at the front is I believe a Hotchkiss M1909 model.

An interesting image and would welcome any observations .

Regards, Simon.

[Hawthorn]

Unsure why the last image is in portrait and not landscape, apologies.

Simon.

[Jelly Terror]

Love the inscription: ‘I have just spotted an aeroplane.’

Wonderful.

JT

[Jelly Terror]

Great photo, Simon.

A couple of the chaps are wearing Sgt. chevrons. To the best of my knowledge, this was not permitted within the VTC:

'The accepted military ranks and titles will not be used or recognised, and no uniform is to be worn except where necessary for training.' *

Simon - Sgt.jpg

As we know, the VTC had their own cuff lace rank system too:

VTC Ranks.jpg

Also, the drum appears to say '8th' (possibly), before the MKB, and 'Coy' after it. Just an added observation:

AE3A5AEC-009D-4D32-A1B5-8C48D3363DB6.jpg

The buttons appear to be black 'rifles' buttons, but could equally be the so-called 'football' buttons often seen worn on the VTC uniform.

CLNG b4.jpg

Thanks for sharing.

JT


* Source: 'Uniforms of the Volunteers 1914-19', The Journal of the Society for Army Historical research, Autumn 1938, Vol.17, No.67, pp. 163-170.

[Alan O]

I don't recognise the LMG but that would make it WW1 era: East Kent Volunteer Regiment is a contender for EKVR rather than Reserves.

[Alan O]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hotchk...kiss_M1909.png

There you go. The LMG is French so I would suggest the photo must be 1915-16.

[Beaker123]

Evening
Very nice photo, sorry I missed this when posted back in September as the KVF is an interest but I don't have anything to add re the photo just some background. In 1915 the KVF were organised into three 'regiments' East (3 bns + mounted squadron), Mid (4 bns), West (5 bns). After a reorganisation in about August 1916 the battalions were numbered consecutively 1 - 12. The 3rd Mid Kent VF became the 8th Bn.

KVF bands of some sort, eg drum and bugle or full band, existed in a number of towns: Broadstairs, Ramsgate, Northbourne, Deal, Herne Bay, Dover, Sydenham, Beckenham, Erith, Gravesend, Faversham, Maidstone, possibly Sittingbourne and there maybe others. Like Simon's photo the drum on the one I've attached is quite informative "E Coy - Volunteer Fencibles - East Kent - Cinque Ports Battn", E company being Folkestone ( the band continued after the war for some years as the Fencibles Band).

The chap with the two armbands must have liked his photo as I've got 'em as well.

All best,
Steve

Originally Posted by Hawthorn

Hopefully some of you may find this an interesting photographic postcard showing a Volunteer Kent Unit.

Having studied the cap badges I believe them to be for the Kent Volunteer Fencibles however the reverse of the card details the Unit as B Company, No 1 Platoon, E.K.V.R. (East Kent Volunteer Reserve?)

Although its difficult to fully make it out the bass drum bears the Horse of Kent within a circlet with 'M.K.B.' on it, any suggestions welcome re identification and deciphering the other details?

The two Officers and the Warrant Officer wear different cap badges which I have not yet positively identified.

The clothing of the young boys seated at the front is also quite interesting in that one wears a full uniform matching that of the adults, the lad second from the right wears a very small Kent Horse style cap badge and the boy second from the left wears an unidentified lapel badge.

The light machine gun at the front is I believe a Hotchkiss M1909 model.

An interesting image and would welcome any observations .

Regards, Simon.

[Hawthorn]

Steve,

Many thanks for the information and excellent photograph.

Regards, Simon.