The Great Windsor Fire-Brigades Jubilee Review 1887: Silver (not hallmarked) Cross

Sold together with:

- Metal:Silver (not H/M) or Silver plated

- Height: 55mm

- Width:34mm

- Obverse: Cross pattee with veiled portrait of Queen Victoria in centre. The four arms, of the cross each respectively with part of the legend 'Born 1819 / Crowned 1838 / Married 1840 / 1887 Jubilee

- Reverse: Uniface

- Suspension: Fixed ring attached to lower fixed loop, of the ornate stylized 'Merryweather' fireman helmet' that has a stick pin fitting attached to the reverse of the helmet

- Helmet:The obverse of the Merryweather Helmet with inscription 'F.B.A. Windsor June 23rd 1887'

- Weight: 12g

Sold together with:

- Embroidered cloth & bullion 'St George' shield with date 1887

The 'Great Windsor Fire Brigade Review' held at Windsor in Jubilee Year of 1887, was the first and largest 'All Britain' Fire Brigade review coordinated by the Fire Brigades Association

More than 2000 Fire-men, from a huge number of Fire Brigades, travelled to Windsor for the review, that was carried out by Her Majesty Queen Victoria, the 'Queen Empress'.

The 'Great Windsor Fire Brigade Review' Cross was presented to each Fireman present

The British 'Fire Brigade Association' established in the last quarter of the 20th Century, had by 1882, a membership that numbered an estimated 1250 x Fire Brigades and more then 25,000 volunteer firemen volunteers, drawn from fire brigades the length and breadth of the United Kingdom.

The 'Great Windsor Review' held on 27 July 1887, during the Jubilee celebrations for Queen Victoria, was the largest review of Fire Brigades until that time, with 134 x 'Engines' (including steam engines as well as horse-drawn and wheeled-pumps) and just over 1000 fire-men taking part, in what was recorded as a spectacular event. All firemen present were presented with the special commemorative medal, described above.

The 'Great Windsor Review' was widely reported in the national press, some articles being in exhaustive detail (see the 'Windsor and Eton Express' issue of 2 July 1887, for a list of all the Fire Brigades present). As an example of one of the syndicated reports, we are below quoting the article that was published in the 'Aberdeen Press and Journal' newspaper issue of 24 June 1887:

Quote,

JUBILEE FESTIVITIES AT WINDSOR

The jubilee festivities in Windsor were continued yesterday with the feasting of over 7000 children in the private grounds of the Home Park. the scene being witnessed by Her Majesty and several members of the Royal Family. There were also football contests. The chief feature of the day's programme was the fire brigade demonstration, when 134 engines and detachments were inspected in the Long Walk by Sir Charles Firth, President of the Fire Brigade's Association. Medals commemorative of the event, presented by Captain Footit, were distributed to the brigades. A procession was then formed, and proceeded through the Royal borough to the Home Park, where an exhibition of drill by steam and manual engines was held in presence of the Queen. In the evening a grand torchlight procession was held in the Home Park, after which the brigades, preceded by the massed bands of the Royal Horse Guards, Coldstream Guards and the Northamptonshire Regiment. proceeded by Royal invitation to the Castle.

Unquote.
A scarce pair of early Fire Brigade commemorative insignia. The 'Great Windsor Fire Brigade Review' cross, being the best example of this insignia that we have seen this far

Condition: The Cross about EF

Code: 25189