2nd Royal Guernsey Militia

This is a helmet to an officer of the French speaking 2nd Royal Guernsey Militia Regiment. The helmet is covered in green cloth denoting its role as light infantry. It exhibits a rounded front peak, a black sweatband, blackened white metal fittings, and its original storage tin. The helmet is also named with the name “Hobson” written in Ink hidden behind the sweatband on the inside of the helmet.

This is a rare surviving example of an early helmet which reused its shako plate. I have never seen another helmet with this feature. The helmet only has two holes in its skull for the two lug fastenings of the 1869 pattern shako plate rather than the three for the helmet plate. This was indicated as a somewhat common practice upon the introduction of the home service helmet in Ernest J Martin’s 1944 article “The Universal Helmet-Plate, 1878-1914.”

The manufacturer's label reads “Hobson & Sons, 37 & 38 Little Windmill St Haymarket, London W.” This label was used from 1878-1886 as Hobson & Sons changed their address after that date. In 1881, the Guernsey Militia along with the whole of the British 

Militia changed their lacing and fitting color from silver (as displayed on the helmet) to gold. Also beginning in 1881, a new plate was adopted by the regiment. This dates the helmet from 1878-1881 (Likely closer to 1878 due to the use of the shako plate).

The 2nd Regiment was raised from Catel and Vale in the North of the Island in 1711. The predominant language on the island in the 19th century was Norman French and this shows in its nickname, “Le Régiment Vert,” which describes their green uniform facings. 

There were four infantry regiments; the others being the 1st (East/Town) Regiment, the 3rd (South) Regiment (Le Régiment Bleu), and the 4th (West) Regiment (Le Régiment Noir). These regiments were tasked with the defense of the island, primarily from the threat of French Invasion. As such, service in the militia was compulsory, with the militia drilling regularly and holding posts along the coast. The militia and the regular British garrison were able to repel many invasion attempts. These threats intensified in the mid-19th century during the French invasion scare that gripped the entirety of Great Britain.

The 2nd Regiment mutinied in 1896, refusing to follow the orders of its British officers. This led to the second’s disbandment and the suspension of the entire Guernsey militia until 1901, where the remaining regiments were amalgamated to form the Royal Guernsey Militia.