Haddingtonshire Rifle Volunteers hemet
This Victorian Rifleman’s helmet has the badge of the Haddingtonshire Volunteers on the front. In the last half of the nineteenth century, young men were encouraged to enlist for periods in the volunteers.
Helmet with high curved crown, surmounted by a metal spike, the rear slightly flared and longer than short, flat peak at the front. A metal link chin strap is secured with metal roses. The badge on front is a crowned Maltese Cross, St Andrew centre and text reading HADDINGTONSHIRE RIFLE VOLR. CORPS.
Rifle Volunteer Companies were formed in East Lothian during an 1859 invasion panic. Grouped as an Administrative Battalion, they became 1st Haddingtonshire Rifle Volunteers (1880) and then 7th Volunteer Battalion of the Royal Scots (1888).
Museum id no. 1688
2 comments
Scott Kraft wrote...
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Pith Helmets, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
What a beautiful helmet !!!!