Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Dorset Rifle Volunteers Officer’s Green Cloth Helmet c. 1878-83, the skull with rounded peak complete with blackened metal fittings, the frontal plate being a crowned Bath style star cross, the arms of the cross with the legend ‘Dorset Rifle Volrs.’ with a Roman fasces on the bottom arm of the cross, on the circle ‘Pro Patria’ and in the centre on a ground of red cloth a strung bugle horn, buff leather sweat band and pink silk lining with supplier’s details ‘Hawkes & Co., London’, the plate original to the helmet, the ribbed pattern chin chain lacking most of its lining, severe moth damage to the front left of the cloth bracing band and the silk lining part perished, otherwise good condition £400-500