Aigburth Volunteer Corps 1914 badge, Home Guard?

[medals1976]

Hi folks, I have just picked up a couple of old badges that came from a house clearance. One badge is quite large with red, white and blue enamels and states " AIGBURTH VOLUNTEER CORPS 1914" There is a small scroll below this "PRO PATRIA". The other badge is a smaller enamel badge with a white enamel Liver bird within a gold star. It says "CITY OF LIVERPOOL VOUNTEER GUARD". On the reverse it is numbered 962.

I am told they wer some type of home guard unit during WW1 but cannot find any information on them. Are they rare badges and valuable? Any help is much appreciated.

Thanks,

Mike.

[daggers]

Mike

There have been previous posts about the Liverpool Volunteer Guard which as you say was a home defence force similar to Home Guard in WW2. There were many very local units such as Aigburth's, and other based on employment, such as Post Office Drill Club, Cotton Exchange Corps, Tramways Corps etc. Most had a rule that entrants had to be over 40 and exempt from full military service. A Central Association of these Volunteer units was formed under Lord Desborough (Grenfell). Most Liverpool units were swept up into a Lancashire Volunteer Regiment (1916), but in July 1918 they became 1st & 2nd Volunteer Battalions of the King's (Liverpool Regiment).

Little seems to have been written up, though there is some material in the Liverpool Record Office, and more in the local press, if you search the microfilms. There was much early discussion on what uniform/badging etc should be worn.

PM me if you want more detail.

I cannot help on value of the badges, but am sure someone will be along soon.

Daggers

[medals1976]

Thank-you very much Daggers. It's the first I have heard about this unit and did not realise they became 1st and 2nd Volunteer Batallions of the Liverpool Regiment. I am very pleased with this information and appreciate your help.

Mike.

[pbrydon]

It would be much appreciated if you could post a picture of the Aigburth badge

Regards

P.B.

The Volunter Guard mufti badge is quite well known

[medals1976]

Hi, will try and get a photo on this evening.

thanks,

Mike.

[medals1976]

Just tried to upload image but its not letting me as it states its too large, any idea whats best way?

Mike.

[pbrydon]

Mike,

I am a complete duffer on a computer,but if you have photo imaging software,if you can reduce the size of the image to within the limits specified ie below 100k,it should load alright.

P.B.

[medals1976]

Hi, will try and make the image smaller but am a duffer myself when it comes to things like this.

Mike.

[pbrydon]

Medals1976 has very kindly sent me a picture of the Aigburth Volunteer Corps badge,which with his permission I am now posting.

I have not come across this badge before in many years of collecting Liverpool militaria,it just goes to show how even now previously unknow items can turn up

P.B.

[medals1976]

Many thanks Peter for posting the picture.

Mike.

[bruce]

This is an interesting thread and has set me thinking.

There seem to be a number of us in the Forum from Merseyside.

Has there ever been a meet-up for us? If not, why not?

(Anticipating the reply of...No, there hasn't...so get on with organising one!)

Bruce

[daggers]

a]I read in some document at Liverpool Record Office that the LVG badges were made by Fattorini. I don't know if that helps anyone.

b]I await the summons!

Daggers

[JulianB]

Bruce, - I no longer live there but still visit and am v interested in Lpl mil history - I'll happily be a "foreign" member !

Medals - nice badge (I'm an ex resident of Aigburth !) one to add to te list of Lpl 1WW vols

Daggers - Thos Fattorini of Bolton (who are still going strong) made many of these things, also the Lpl Vol Gd badge - I don't think they made "regular" cap badges etc

[pbrydon]

Bruce,

Like Julian B I no longer live in Liverpool but would be interested in meeting up with other members with a Liverpool interest

Peter

P.S. There was a colour sgt in the 3rd V.B. Kings Liverpool Regt John Fattorini who may have had a conection with the firm of Thomas Fattorini.As Julian says the firm seem to specialise in enameled badges not just military ones

P.P.S. I remember when a pub in Aigburth Road was called the Kingsman (towards Garston on the opposite of the road to the Cricket Club ) They had a fair bit of Kings Regt memorabillia on display but that was along time ago.