London WW1 National Reserve

[Empire collector]

The album entry on ASR's archive of the London Reserve WW1 lapel badge prompts me to ask a question which has been bugging me for a long time.

http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...ictureid=79731

This is obviously a Class II badge (there were three classes)
The number of the battalion is stamped on the right hand butt of the crossed rifles-in this case number 1.

The numbers referred to areas of London....
(I know of the following)

2 Battersea
4 Bethnel Green
6 Chelsea
9 Fulham
15 Islington
17 Lambeth
18 Lewisham
22 St Pancras
26 Stoke Newington
27 Wandsworth
29 Woolwich

As you can see I have 11 out of 29 (were there more ?) & they are in alphabetical order.
So number 1 probably begins with A or B - Acton perhaps?

Can anyone fill is the missing numbers with their districts ?

(Tried Googling but all I get are national wildlife reserves in London!!)

Thank you
Alan

[hertsmil]

Hi Alan.

i have a few more to add to your list.

Class I (red) Kensington with 16 on the butt

Class II (blue) London with 1 on the butt

Class II (blue) Lewisham with 18 on the butt

Class II (blue) Paddington with 19 on the butt

have not seen a class III but am still looking, are there any albums on the forum to do with National Reserve badges not just London but country wide i have quite a few but would love to see other collectors stuff.
hope the info helps.
Andy

[Graham Stewart]

Originally Posted by Empire collector

The album entry on ASR's archive of the London Reserve WW1 lapel badge prompts me to ask a question which has been bugging me for a long time.

http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...ictureid=79731

This is obviously a Class II badge (there were three classes)
The number of the battalion is stamped on the right hand butt of the crossed rifles-in this case number 1.

The numbers referred to areas of London....
(I know of the following)

2 Battersea
4 Bethnel Green
6 Chelsea
9 Fulham
15 Islington
17 Lambeth
18 Lewisham
22 St Pancras
26 Stoke Newington
27 Wandsworth
29 Woolwich

As you can see I have 11 out of 29 (were there more ?) & they are in alphabetical order.
So number 1 probably begins with A or B - Acton perhaps?

Can anyone fill is the missing numbers with their districts ?

(Tried Googling but all I get are national wildlife reserves in London!!)

Thank you
Alan

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the workings of the National Reserve, may I suggest you read their Regulations for 1911 & 1913 here;-
http://armyservicenumbers.blogspot.c...ions-1913.html

Prior to the formation of the NR you actually had the the 'Veterans Reserve', sadly I don't have a copy of their Regulations.

All of the units or 'gap fillers' for you collectors were listed in County Association Minute Books, and those areas with larger populations formed battalions, which in the main were not uniformed, apart from I believe two units units, one of which was 'Westminster National Reserve' and they even had a capbadge. At the time the War Office was not impressed with this flagrant disregard for 'Regulations'

On the outbreak of War in 1914, the bulk of NR was called up for service, along with Regular Reservists and they eventually went onto to form Supernumary Companies of the Territorial Force.

[Empire collector]

Thank you both for your replies,

I'm now two closer to a full set of Districts.

Alan

[orasot]

I know it's late adding to this thread but I picked this one up today in case anyone is still interested in it, Westminster on the back & 28 on the butt,
Wilf.