2nd Volunteer Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers

[RoyalScotsVols]

The 1st Administrative Battalion, Berwickshire Rifle Volunteers was formed in November 1863. Berwickshire is a historic county in south-eastern Scotland bordering England which is known for its coastline, agriculture and the Lammermuir Hills. The county is named after Berwick-upon-Tweed but this town was separated from Scotland in 1482 and remains part of England. The battalion had its headquarters in Duns, the main county town in Berwickshire, and included the following corps which had previously been raised in towns throughout the county in response to the perceived French invasion scare of 1859:

• 1st Duns – formed December 1859; meeting location possibly co-located with the Militia stores at Tiendhill Green in the town.
• 2nd Coldstream – formed March 1860; meeting location likely adjacent to the church pending the hall being constructed in 1876.
• 3rd Aytoun – formed May 1860; meeting location unknown.
• 4th Greenlaw – formed February 1860; meeting location unknown.
• 5th Lauderdale – formed April 1860; meeting location unknown.
• 6th Earlston – formed June 1863; meeting location unknown.
• 7th Chirnside – formed July 1863; initial meeting location unknown until the construction of the hall in 1873.

Most of these early meeting places are either unclear or have since been demolished but the drill hall at Chirnside still exists and is pictured below. The date stone reads ‘7th B.R.V. 1873’ for 7th Corps Berwickshire Rifle Volunteers and the buildings completion date of 1873.



The headquarters of the battalion was moved from Duns to Coldstream in November 1876 which I think was likely to be when the Coldstream drill hall located behind the town’s church and pictured below was built – the greater accommodation here possibly being the reason for the move (but this is conjecture on my part):



In April 1880 the battalion was consolidated as the 1st Berwickshire Rifle Volunteers with the earlier seven companies now being lettered from A to G in the order of seniority which was unchanged from the list above. During April 1884 the battalion was affiliated to and adopted the uniform of the Royal Scots and in 1885 the headquarters were moved back from Coldstream to Duns.

The battalion was transferred from the Royal Scots Regimental District to that of the King’s Own Scottish Borderers and assumed the new title of 2nd (Berwickshire) Volunteer Battalion, King’s Own Scottish Borderers in May 1887 (albeit some sources note that the change did not take effect until 1888).

A grand new Volunteer Hall was opened in Duns on 13 February 1895 at a ceremony attended by over 1,000 people. The hall was built on a half-acre plot funded by public subscription, mostly from the people of Duns, although the largest single donation was from Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Hope who was the unit’s commanding officer from May 1887 to March 1908. This fine hall still exists – the pictures below show it on completion and how it looks today. The red panels were a temporary First World War commemoration, now removed, but sadly the later entrance canopy and tasteless blue doors remain:



Following the opening of the new drill hall, the previous location at the Militia stores at Tiendhill Green in the town was demolished in in 1895.

During the Second Boer War (October 1899 to May 1902) the battalion supplied its contingent to all the volunteer service companies of the King’s Own Scottish Borderers with a total of 80 men having served in South Africa.

 

[RoyalScotsVols]

Pictured below is an officer’s helmet from my collection from the 2nd Volunteer Battalion, King’s Own Scottish Borderers of the style worn from circa 1887 to the death of Queen Victoria in 1901. This helmet is named internally and on the name plaque on its transit tin to Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Hope who served as the unit’s commanding officer from May 1887 to March 1908 having previously been a regular Captain in the 60th Rifles (King’s Royal Rifle Corps). He had joined the 60th Rifles in 1868 and served in the Afghan War of 1878-80 including the march from Kabul to Kandahar before retiring from the military in 1883. The helmet is slightly unusual in having the earlier rounded front peak but presumably Lieutenant-Colonel Hope had wished to retain this feature.

The helmet fittings are in silver for a volunteer battalion with the plate being the generic eight-pointed star with the topmost point displaced by the crown and an inner laurel wreath. Within the wreath is the regimental badge comprising the Cross of St Andrew upon a circlet inscribed ‘King’s Own Scottish Borderers’ with a representation of Edinburgh Castle showing three turrets each with a flag flying to the left. Above the circlet is the moto ‘In Veritate Religionis Confido’ (I trust in the truth of religion) which had been given to the regular King’s Own Borderers regiment by King George III. Below the circlet is the Edinburgh moto ‘Nisi Dominus Frustra’ (Without the Lord all is in vain). Surrounding the circlet is a wreath of thistles with The Royal Crest (i.e. the lion) and the crown above – popularly and affectionately referred to as the ‘dug and bonnet’. The unit title ‘2nd Volunteer Battalion’ is shortened and added on the lower scroll.

 

[John Josef]

Great post as always, the History adds so much for me.

I saw this on ebay and thought of you straight away, you may already have one or you may not want one. Overall, it looks really cool but when I look closer, I see some problems. Maybe put together?

 

[RoyalScotsVols]

Great post as always, the History adds so much for me.

I saw this on ebay and thought of you straight away, you may already have one or you may not want one. Overall, it looks really cool but when I look closer, I see some problems. Maybe put together?

Many thanks for your post - I agree that having some understanding of the history behind these items increases their appreciation. When this helmet came into my possession there was only the name ‘C Hope’ on the transit tin along with his initials CH on the helmet liner. Researching the unit’s history revealed this officer to have been Lt Col Charles Hope along with his participation in the Afghan War including the epic 320 mile march from Kabul to Kandahar to relieve the besieged British troops and defeat the Afghan force.

The helmet you’re interested in is from the Governor General’s Body Guard of Canada. I’m not an expert in Canadian helmets but from the picture it generally looks good to me although it's unfortunate that the top of the crown doesn’t quite meet the point of the plume base in order to fully conceal the centre seam. It’s interesting that the helmet plate is voided behind the maple leaf with dark material backing both here and between the garter and scroll. This could possibly be an officer or SNCO’s plate but the helmet body would appear to be an OR’s pattern.

Yeohelmetguy posted photos of the helmet from his collection along with an excellent summary of the unit’s history under the title British Dragoon Helmet Collection # 8 on 23 April 2023 in this section of the forum. This is well worth reviewing to see an exceptional example of this helmet.

 

[Winlinton]

RSV......I joined this forum hoping to contact you, as I have what I reckon are three red jackets to Lt.-Col. Charles Hope.
One Victorian KOSB, and two Lord Lietenant.

Unfortunately, I discovered you cannot PM members until you have made so many posts, which I am unlikley to attain.

I believe you know Dave Cantwell of Allied & Axis militaria ? I know this is all a bit convoluted, but could you contact Dave, and he will put you onto me !

Thanks.

Alan, Irvine, Ayrshire.