Northamptonshire Rifle Volunteer Corps

This is a Victorian helmet to the 1st Northamptonshire Rifle Volunteer Corps. This plate was used from when home service helmets were first issued to the unit in 1879 up until 1887 when the unit officially changed its name to 1st Volunteer Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment. The manufacturer’s label reads “Cater & Co established 1776.” The helmet is named on the inside to Fitzroy. 

More specifically, Henry James Fitzroy, the Earl of Euston, who served as a major in the corps, and then as its lieutenant colonel from 1882. He was the eldest son of the 7th Duke of Grafton, but died before his father and did not inherit the title. He was also the aide de camp to Edward VII during his coronation from 1901-1902, Deputy Lieutenant of Suffolk, Deputy Lieutenant of Northamptonshire, and Justice of the Peace for Suffolk and for Northamptonshire. 

The helmet has the interesting feature of possessing metal trim along the rear peak. The only other helmet I have seen which shares this feature is a grey cloth helmet of the civil service rifles auctioned through Bosley’s, which I have also been able to acquire.