Early Rifle Volunteer Officer 's Forage Cap found in Houghton-le-Spring, County Durham, most likely 7th Durham City Rifle Volunteers

1855 pattern black wool forge cap with flat peak and rifle green braid and top knot. Label to inside gives military outfitters details as G Phillips, Army & Navy Outfitters, Stonehouse. Leather lining still present and silk purple lining present but perished in places.

Has seem some service, as determined from the worn and grubby interior, but otherwise it has held its shape and has only minor moth traces except for a bad patch of damage to the top left front of the cap (see photos). Dark green braided lace and dark green top button. Bullion bugle badge sewn to front is the original and also in very good condition.

According to the owner, found in the early 1990s in a box in a loft in a house in Houghton-le-spring, County Durham. An amazingly scarce item and most likely attributable to one of the Durham Rifle Volunteer Units who wore Rifle Green, making this more than likely the property of an officer who served with the 7th Durham City Rifle Volunteers, who were nicknamed locally as the ' Black Watch '.

The 7th became the 4th Durham Rifle Volunteers in 1880 and then the 4th V.B. Durham Light Infantry in 1887, and 8th Territorial Battalion DLI in 1908.

Regret unable to post to USA due to textile import restrictions. Please note the head is for display and is not for sale.

Comm

Code: 58311