I don't think this is a military uniform but has anyone any ideas?

[mbriscoe]

As above, I don't think this is military but I am after ideas.

 

It is my Grandfather's cousin, Frederick Walter Briscoe.  He was a very successful accountant in Bolton and moved to the Isle of Man around 1900.  I don't know of him being a Volunteer / Territorial though his father was a Quartermaster-Sergeant so possible he also had an administrative post.  

 

https://www.imuseum.im/search/archive_record/view?id=mnh-museum-498393

 

Any thoughts would be useful.

 

 

Edited 25 July , 2019 by mbriscoe

[Steven Broomfield]

I would suggest a GW-era Volunteer member - the sort of GW Home Guard.

[T8HANTS]

Volunteer Training Corps, or Veterans Reserve.

 

[mbriscoe]

Thanks I will look into those suggestions.

 

 

[OLD ROBIN HOOD]

Greetings from the sweltering forest of Sherwood.

 

I believe that the picture is of a member of the Volunteer Training Corps.  I have attached an image of a cap similar to the one he is wearing,  this one being badged to the Rochester Volunteer Training Corps.  The material from which it is made is the same colour as tropical KD however, I have a couple more which are light grey in colour.  Hope this is of interest.

 

 

 

                                                  Old Robin Hood

 

 

[mbriscoe]

Just looking on the Manx archive.

 

Loyal Manx Volunteer Corps

 

None of the records have been digitised.  I might pay for a week's access to their newspaper archive because the coverage of the IoM on the BNA is poor.

[OLD ROBIN HOOD]

Greetings

Having done  a little more checking I have found that the LOYAL MANX VOLUNTEER CORPS was affiliated to the Central Association of Volunteer Training Corps.

 

                                                                                      Robin

[FROGSMILE]

8 hours ago, OLD ROBIN HOOD said:

Greetings

Having done  a little more checking I have found that the LOYAL MANX VOLUNTEER CORPS was affiliated to the Central Association of Volunteer Training Corps.

 

                                                                                      Robin

 

The uniform with its distinctive button fastened waist belt, and the braiding used as rank marking is typical of the first pattern adopted by the Volunteer Training Corps.

 

His badge of rank worn on the cuff (3 rings with disc above, the latter out of sight) indicates that he is a Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant, very appropriate for an accountant.

 

If you’re interested the full regulations for VTC have been digitally archived here: https://archive.org/details/officialregulati00centrich/page/60

 

Edited 26 July , 2019 by FROGSMILE

[JulianB]

Thanks Bob, I've been wondering for a while whether officers wore different cap badges from the ORs. I'm interested in the Liverpool Volunteer Guard and its successor (from 1916) the Liverpool Volunteer Regiment.

It seems to me from your very useful 'regulations' that they didn't.

Though their badges might be of the same design but in superior metal and manufacturing !?

[FROGSMILE]

3 hours ago, JulianB said:

Thanks Bob, I've been wondering for a while whether officers wore different cap badges from the ORs. I'm interested in the Liverpool Volunteer Guard and its successor (from 1916) the Liverpool Volunteer Regiment.

It seems to me from your very useful 'regulations' that they didn't.

Though their badges might be of the same design but in superior metal and manufacturing !?

 

Glad to help.  I suspect that all VTC badges were purchased by the wearers, and inevitably, the officers quality would have been of greater expense.

Edited 26 July , 2019 by FROGSMILE

[mbriscoe]

I took a seven day subscription to the Manx newspaper archive - it is not as good as the BNA. 

 

Several items on the LMVC but not found any mention of my relative.  I think I did see something having to get their own uniforms but perhaps that was only officers.  I will have another look tomorrow.

 

 

[FROGSMILE]

10 minutes ago, mbriscoe said:

I took a seven day subscription to the Manx newspaper archive - it is not as good as the BNA. 

 

Several items on the LMVC but not found any mention of my relative.  I think I did see something having to get their own uniforms but perhaps that was only officers.  I will have another look tomorrow.

 

 

 

Initially at least all ranks of the VTC had to purchase their own uniforms regardless of rank.

[OLD ROBIN HOOD]

Greetings from a soaking wet Royal Forest of Sherwood.

 

It is true that in the early days, members of units affiliated to the Central Association of Volunteer Training Corps had to purchase all of their own uniform and equipment.

For many people who were on low wages this could have caused financial hardship and perhaps put them off from joining.  Strictly speaking though, it was only the red brassard with the black letters GR in the centre that was the official uniform.  This was supposed to declare the wearer as an official combatant under the Hague Convention In the event of combat with invading enemy forces.  However, most members still wished to wear a proper uniform.  The War Office stated that they could not wear a uniform that could be mistaken for that of the regular army, nor could it be made from materials that were needed to produce uniforms for the regular army.  The colour generally chosen was grey/green.  I have attached images of advertisements from the Central Association of Volunteer Training Corps Gazette of May 1915 that show how much these uniforms cost.  

 

 

In order to encourage recruitment in Newark Upon Trent, Nottinghamshire a public subscription was raised to assist poorer members to acquire their uniform.  I would imagine that the same thing happened in other towns. 

Concerning badges,  these were privately produced and could be purchased from various suppliers.  One of these being Thomas Fattorini of Bolton.  I have seen many badges for different VTC units with Fattorini's name on the slider.  I think that this company is still in existence today, or was until quite recently. 

 

 

 

Hope this is of some interest.

 

                                            Old Robin Hood