British India: Lakhimpur Volunteer Rifles. Silver / Silvered. Officers cap badge (Circa 1882-1888)

The badge with word 'silver' indented on reverse, and retaining 2 x loop fittings as-issued

- Metal: Silver or Silver plated (reverse indented 'Silver')

- Height: Approx 55mm

- Width: Approx 34mm

- Weight: Approx 31g

The badge is a solid die-struck of insignia. The absence of British hall-marks (only applied on items struck in the United Kingdom), and use of the word 'Silver' indicates an item of insignia almost certainly struck by a Calcutta based silversmith during the days of the British Raj, and at a time when Calcutta was the capital city and seat of power of the British colonial government in British India

An identical example of this rare badge badge is in the Field Marshal John Chapple Collection held by The National Army Museum, see below link:

https://collection.nam.ac.uk/detail.php?acc=2013-10-20-83-70

The Lakhimpur Volunteer Rifle Corps was established by Government General Order No 599 of 3 November 1882. Reference Alan Harfield's 'The Auxiliary Force India...' (2015), the unit comprised only 30 x 'Volunteers' on strength by October 1883 (the source is not cited, and presumably only refers to the ordinary enlisted 'Volunteer' ranks, and does not not include NCO's & Officers on the establishment. The unit was re-styled 'Lakhimpur Mounted Rifles' by Government General Order No 613 of 27 July 1888. By 1891, The Lakhimpur Mounted Rifles', with Headquarters at Dibrugarh, Assam comprised a single company, of '86 X 'All-Ranks' (including 8 x Officers, which latter included an Honorary Surgeon). On 6 November 1891, the unit together with 5 x other 'Assam' based volunteer units was amalgamated to form the Assam Valley Mounted Rifles, which on 25 September 1896, further morphed to become the Assam Valley Light Horse.

Rare

Condition: Toned GVF

Code: 21336