C009657 BRITISH WWI RIFLE BRIGADE OTHER RANKS UNIFORM GROUPING.

BACKGROUND: The Rifle Brigade can trace its beginnings back to the creation, in 1800, of an experimental Corps of Riflemen made up of about forty officers and men hand-picked from other regiments. After proving themselves in battle they ceased to be experimental and were given the title The Rifle Corps. In 1802 they became known as the 95th Regiment of Foot and in 1862 were renamed the Prince Consort's Own Rifle Brigade in Honour of the former Colonel-in-Chief, Prince Albert, The Prince Consort who had died the year before. By the start of the First World War they were officially known as the Prince Consort's Own (Rifle Brigade).

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: A uniform grouping that consists of a visor cap, tunic, trousers and a web belt. The visor cap has a one-piece crown, four-piece body with seams at each of its cardinal points, center band, and stiffened visor, all in khaki wool. Attached over each ear by brass buttons with embossed British coats-of-arms, and adjusted by two sliding brass buckles, is brown leather chin strap,. Two light brown painted grommet ventilation holes are under each side of the crown. The liner and sweatband are in black oilcloth and stamped to the interior crown, in white with a partially indecipherable makers name and the size "7". The under side of the visor is green colored oil cloth that has a few holes allowing the brown of the visor material to show through. Attached to the front of the cap is a stamped alloy "Rifle Brigade" cap badge which consists of a Maltese Cross , surrounded by a wreath, with an annulus to the center inscribed with "Rifle Brigade", a kings crown above a French horn with cord to the center of the annulus and all surmounted by a kings crown. The cap is in very good condition with the cap badge still fairly bright. The M1902 unlined service tunic is made from khaki serge and has a five button front closure with a lay down collar with dual hooks and eyes at the throat. There are two pleated patch breast pockets and two horizontal slash hip pockets all with buttoned, straight-edged flaps. Pinned above the left breast pocket is a ribbon bar that consists of the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal 1914-18 and the Victory Medal 1914-18. There are brass belt support hooks positioned to each hip at the waistline and dual vertical tail skirt vents are to the reverse. The integral shoulder straps are buttoned near the neck and pinned to each are black painted insignia consisting of the letters "RB" (Rifle Brigade). Looped around the left shoulder and passing under the strap is a black lanyard. The larger front buttons and the smaller pocket and shoulder strap buttons are all a black molded bakelite with "Rifle Brigade" and the Guelphic crown (Prince Albert) and the French horn with cord and appear to have their original stitching. To the lower left sleeve are a brass rifle marksman skill at arms badge, two good conduct chevrons( for five years service ) and a wound stripe. The stripe is held on by two prongs with a cotter pin to the reverse that pass through a plate that is embossed with "The Wounded Stripe", "Prov", "No4" and "Pat". Stamped to the right thigh pocket bag is what appears to be a "W Broad-arrow D" with the numbers "360" below. The tunic is in very good condition with the expected light nap wear but all its original stitching and no apparent repairs. The straight-legged khaki wool service trousers have a four brass dish button French fly, with a fifth at the waistband, two vertical side seam slash pockets, and a further six brass dish buttons along the waistband for suspenders. Sewn to the trousers just to the rear of the left pocket is a white cotton label with the printed text "Trousers O.R.", "Service Dress", "Size 4 NS", "Height 5/5-5/6", "Waist 30-31", "Breech 35-36", "leg 30 1/2", "The Rego Clothiers Ltd" and has been stamped with a "broad-arrow" "WD" and the date "1916". The interior waistband and pocket bags are in light khaki cotton while there is a white cotton patch sewn to the crotch. There is a rectangle of light brown cloth to the rear waist above a two piece "V" shaped piece of cloth were the pants have been let out. Stamped to the waistband is a "W broad-arrow D" while hand written to it are "33" and "33x28". Very light nap wear and age soiling is evident, but the trousers are otherwise in excellent condition. The 3" wide, standard P08, tan/khaki webbed canvas belt with brass fittings has one end that terminates in a crimped plate with three grommet holes while the other end is the same style crimped plate, but with a swiveling hook which, after the belt is folded over upon itself, secures the end to its adjusted position. The adjusted length is further secured by a brass retaining loop which accommodates the two thick nesses of belt. To the subsequent loop formed by the adjusted end is a hooked brass "buckle" through which the opposite end passes and folds back upon itself. Two, 2" wide, looped and buckled tabs, oriented upwards at inward-leaning angles, are positioned along the reverse, outside center of the belt; for the suspenders. An indecipherable makers name with a date that could be "1915" or "1916" an "L," and a "broad arrow" are inkstamped, in black, to the interior center between the stitching and rivets for the tabs. All of the brass fittings exhibit normal age patina, and the webbing has several minor picks and stains, but is in very good, complete condition considering its vintage. This is a very nice set of First World War service dress and it is possible that the cap badge is of the scarce 1903-10 white metal vintage.

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