BRITISH ARMY INFANTRY OFFICERS HOME SERVICE HELMET PLATES 1878-1901 A SAMPLING PART TWO

[Yeohelmetguy]

CONTINUED FROM BRITISH OFFICERS HOME SERVICE HELMET PLATES 1878-1901 A SAMPLING PART ONE, PLEASE BE SURE TO LOOK AT THE HELMET PLATES IN PART ONE WHICH ALSO CONTAINS THE INTRODUCTION TO BOTH POSTS:



Helmet Plate attributed to The Essex Regiment, 2nd Volunteer Battalion, all silver plate, central device, the Castle and Key with the Sphinx over Egypt above and a small scroll below inscribed “Montis Insignia Calpe” on black velvet. The universal laurel wreath is replaced by a wreath od oak leaves. The silver universal title scrolls below inscribed “The Essex Regiment” and below that a second scroll inscribed “2nd Volunteer Battalion”.




Helmet Plate attributed to The Welsh Regiment, 2nd (Glamorgan) Volunteer Battalion 1887-1901, silver/silver plate with central device, the Prince of Wales’s plume with a scroll below inscribed “Gwell Angau Na Chywilydd” on a black velvet ground. On the silver universal title scroll inscribed “The Welsh Regiment” with a second scroll below that inscribed “2nd Volunteer Battalion”.




Helmet Plate attributed to the South Lancashire Regiment, 1st Volunteer Battalion by Hobson & Son 1883 to 1901, silver star plate and garter with gilt regimental title scroll inscribed “South Lancashire Regiment” and below that a second scroll inscribed “1st Volunteer Battalion” and sphynx and tablet inscribed "Egypt" on a black velvet ground. Hobson & Sons makers plate to the rear of the plate.



OFFICERS VOLUNTEER AND MILITIA REGIMENTS 1878-1881:


Helmet Plate, 3rd Regt, Duke of Lancaster's Own (Militia). The 3rd Regiment, Duke of Lancaster’s Own was formally embodied for service on 25 February 1798, and was placed on a permanent footing as the 3rd Royal Lancashire Militia in 1800. The 3rd Royal Lancashire Militia was linked with the 47th (Lancashire) and 81st (Loyal Lincoln Volunteers) Regiments of Foot in Sub-District No 12 (Lancashire), with the depot established at Fulwood Barracks in Preston. The Childers Reforms completed the process by incorporating the militia battalions into the expanded county regiments. On 1 July 1881 the 47th and 81st Foot became the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment with the 3rd Royal Lancashire Militia (The Duke of Lancaster's Own) as its 3rd Battalion. The plate is all silver with a gilt garter strap inscribed with the regimental title “3rd Duke of Lancasters Own” and within the garter an enameled red Lancashire rose.




Helmet Plate attributed to the1st Shropshire Rifle Volunteer Corps as worn 1880 through 1887. Shropshire formed no fewer than 18 companies between 1859-60. By 1863 this number dropped to 16, however each company still consisted of around 100-120 men drawn from local trades and businesses. These part-time soldiers were required to do a number of days training each year as well as attending an annual fortnight’s camp. The 16 Shropshire companies were divided up into two “Administrative Battalions” (1st and 2nd Administrative Battalion with Headquarters at Shrewsbury) and in 1880 these would become the 1st and 2nd Shropshire Rifle Volunteer Corps, then renamed again in 1887 as the 1st and 2nd Volunteer Battalions, King’s Shropshire Light Infantry. The helmet plate is all silver with the central device set on black velvet.




Helmet Plate attributed to the 6th (The Huddersfield) West York Rifle Volunteer Corps as worn from 1878 through 1881. In February 1883 as a result of the Childers Reforms, the Corps was redesignated the 2nd Volunteer Battalion, the Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment with headquarters at The Armoury in Ramsden Street, Huddersfield. The uniform had been scarlet with sky blue facing, but the facings were changed to the standard white by 1887. The helmet plate is all silver with a Yorkshire Rose central device set on a black velvet ground. Ther are also known examples of this plate that have “6th” spelled out as “SIXTH”.




Helmet Plate attributed to the Royal Wiltshire Militia as worn from 1878 through 1881. All silver with silver central device, an intertwined “VR” cypher/monogram mounted on a black velvet ground surrounded by a circle inscribed “Royal Wilts Militia”. In 1881 under the Childers Reforms the Royal Wiltshire Militia was transferred to The Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment as its 3rd Battalion.




Helmet Plate attributed to the Tower Hamlets Rifles as worn between 1878 and 1881. The unit was formed as the 1st Administrative Battalion, Tower Hamlets Rifle Volunteer Corps in May 1861 by the grouping of six smaller rifle volunteer corps that were formed in 1860. The headquarters were established at Truman's Brewery, Spitalfields. In 1880 it was renamed and reorganized as 3rd Tower Hamlets Rifle Volunteer Corps, with headquarters at Whitechapel Road. In 1881 it became a volunteer battalion of the Rifle Brigade. In 1894 the headquarters were moved to Bow. On 1st April 1908 the Territorial Force was formed, and all volunteer infantry battalions in the County of London became part of a new London Regiment. The 3rd Tower Hamlets VRC became 17th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (Poplar and Stepney Rifles).




Helmet Plate attributed to the Hertfordshire Rifle Volunteers, all silver plate, with the Hert mounted on a royal blue velvet backing to the central device now missing. The circular garter inscribed with the regimental title “Hertfordshire Rifle Volunteers”.





Helmet Plate attributed to the (1st or) Royal North Lincolnshire Militia Regiment as worm from 1878 through1881, silver plate with central device, the Royal Crest, mounted on a royal blue velvet backing. In 1881 the Royal North Lincolnshire Militia became the 3rd (Militia) Battalion, Royal Lincolnshire Regiment and served as a reserve battalion to the regiment.

Best regards to all,

David

 

[b.loree]

Beautiful details to all of these which again speaks to the quality of Victorian craftsmanship. I do notice some differences in the wreaths surrounding the centres of these helmet plates. The first example seems to have oak leaves surrounding the garter while the others have either laurel with berries or without. Is there any significance to this difference?? The German designs typically have a combination of laurel and oak leaves or just oak depending upon the era. Excellent quality to all of these examples.

 

[Yeohelmetguy]

Beautiful details to all of these which again speaks to the quality of Victorian craftsmanship. I do notice some differences in the wreaths surrounding the centres of these helmet plates. The first example seems to have oak leaves surrounding the garter while the others have either laurel with berries or without. Is there any significance to this difference?? The German designs typically have a combination of laurel and oak leaves or just oak depending upon the era. Excellent quality to all of these examples.

Hi Brian,

Once again, thank you for your kind remarks and for looking at my latest posts showcasing some of my officers' home service helmet plates! Great question. There are specifications outlined in the various editions of the uniform and clothing regulations issued by Horse Guards over the years, in this case of these helmet plates specific to Victorian era army officers dress and accoutrements. they describe in detail the nuances of each regiments plate. This applies more so to the regular army regiments and the volunteer battalions post 1878 as they relate to these plates. The various volunteer, militia and rifle volunteer corps had more latitude in their devices, at times at the whim of the commanding officers but still generally an emblem closely associated with the country where it was raised but still subject to approval of the authorities at Horse Guards. There are subtle differences in the general design of the "universal star" and the "universal laurel wreath" in terms of dimensions which vary from plate to plate in only the most indistinguishable way and as another example how far around the central garter and motto strap the laurel wreath extends. These are most simply maker variations. British officers were required to purchase their own uniforms, equipment and accouterments from a host of military suppliers and military tailors, hence the minor differences. In the case you point out with the Essex Regiment plate, the substitution of the laurel leaf wreath with one of oak leaves is a regimental distinction that was approved by military authorities, again at Horse Guards that could be a nod to one of the regiments that amalgamated to form the Essex Regiment or an award for service in some part of the world or in a particular action. Another example of this is the wreath seen on the West Indies Regiment plate that appears as the first plate in my part one post, the wreath surrounding the central device is, on the left laurel leaves and on the right, palm fronds which is indicative of its posting or station to the Caribbean.

I hope this helps answer your question.

Best regards,

David

 

[b.loree]

Thank you David, that clears things up.

 

[Yeohelmetguy]

Thank you David, that clears things up.

Terrific, Brian, I'm glad that answered your question... no real mass production here, and it is equally important to remember that the British Army in 1861 numbered about 220,000 men (and remained pretty constant until the onset of World War One) in three Household Cavalry regiments, 28-line cavalry regiments, three Foot Guards regiments, 108-line infantry regiments, 2 rifle regiments and the two Corps regiments (the Royal Artillery and the Royal Engineers). Guards Regiments usually consisted of three battalions, the 25 most senior line infantry regiments consisted of two battalions and the other line regiments had one battalion only. The two rifle regiments had four battalions each. The Childers reforms, which came into effect on 1 July 1881, continued earlier reforms, which strengthened regiments' county affiliations by discarding the numeral system and amalgamating most of the single-battalion regiments into regiments with, for the most part, county names in their titles. This created a force of 69 Line Infantry regiments (48 English, 10 Scottish, 8 Irish and 3 Welsh) each of two battalions. The Childers Reforms further integrated the militia and volunteers into the regular regimental system, and formally established a reserve force. Most infantry regiments had a third militia battalion, which would be filled with recalled reservists in an emergency, and a fourth volunteer battalion (or more), although the volunteer battalions often retained their original titles. This association allowed regular units to detach instructors and administrative staff to the militia and volunteer units, raising their efficiency. A Victorian British infantry regiment typically, then, consisted of two battalions, each with eight companies of about 100 men each. The battalions were usually numbered as the 1st and 2nd battalion of the same regiment, and often served in different locations or campaigns. The regiment was commanded by a colonel, while each battalion had a lieutenant colonel and a major as second-in-command. Each company was led by a captain, with a lieutenant and an ensign, so approximately 48 officers in a regiment, 24 per battalion. The really short answer here is the production of regimental helmet plates for officers was carried out on a relatively small scale for each regiment (keeping in mind every regiment had its own distinctive central device to its plate) which in today's collectors market makes Victorian officers home service helmet plates fairly rare.

On the other hand, the cavalry was less affected by the reforms. Including the three regiments of Household Cavalry, the cavalry numbered 31 regiments, but the regiments were small, generally deploying no more than two squadrons, approximately 140 officers and other ranks, on active service. An attempt was made to link regiments in threes, in the same way that Cardwell had linked pairs of infantry battalions, but this broke down. Nor were the Yeomanry (volunteer cavalry) regiments linked to regular cavalry units.

Just some added perspective...

Cheers,

David

 

[JzPf]

David, outstanding, the quality is amazing. A great selection of plates.
Cheers,
Dennis

 

[Yeohelmetguy]

David, outstanding, the quality is amazing. A great selection of plates.
Cheers,
Dennis

Hi Dennis!

Thank you for your enthusiastic response to my British officer's home service helmet plates post. I appreciate you very discerning eye for quality and uniqueness, so thank you for taking time to look at them. I see that you looked at "part two" but hope you also took time to look at the plates featured in "part one" of my two-part post!

Again, thank you for your very kind observations and comment!!

Cheers,

David

 

[John Josef]

Hi David, Part two is brilliant as well

 

[Yeohelmetguy]

Hi David, Part two is brilliant as well

... thank you, John, I'm pleased you had an opportunity to view the helmet plates in my "Part Two" post and found them to your liking! As well, thank you for your very generous comment!!

Cheers

David