1st Exeter & South Devon Rifle Volunteers Officers / NCOs Pouch Belt Badge

A large die struck pouch badge with three small flat lugs attachments to the reverse. Blackened silver plate. Letters are sharp and jeweller cut finish. The photos do not do it justice. Slight mark/dent to 'N' in Volunteer, otherwise A1 condition. Circa 10.3cm tall.

The Exeter Corps was founded by the superintendant of the Exminster Lunatic Asylum, Dr ( later Sir ) John Bucknill, and members were essentially drawn from the upper middle classes. The relative exclusive nature of the corps was reflected in the initial outlay of the uniform and weapon, which at Exeter in 1857 was 12 guineas.

To claim an incorporation date of 1852 is worthy of further comment. This particular wave of volunteering was occasioned by the Louis Napoleon coup of December 1851. However, a change of administration resulted in applications from other corps being turned down. Exeter was the exception and on the grounds that it appeared like a an area of exceptional risk of invasion. The corps was accepted by the Home Office on 26th March 1852 - its first officers were commissioned on 4th January 1853 - and it became the premier volunteer unit within the country apart from the Honourable Artillery Company. It was redesignated as 1st Devonshire Rifle Volunteers (Exeter and South Devon) in 1859 and became the 1st Volunteer Battalion The Devonshire Regiment on 1st November 1885. This plate continued in use until 1901.

A124.3

Code: 58569