Royal West Kent 4th Volunteer Batttalion Officer's Blue Cloth Helmet

Exceptionally rare 1878 pattern blue cloth home service helmet to the Royal West Kent 4th Volunteer Batttalion of dark blue melton cloth complete with white metal cross piece, spike and rose pattern ear bosses that support a white metal, velvet backed chin chain. It also has a white metal spine running down the rear of the helmet and a white metal trim around the front peak with the remaining helmet edge trimmed with a narrow band of patent leather. The interior has a leather sweatband and silk liner. To the front of the helmet is a white metal eight pointed star plate, the topmost point displaced by a Victorian crown. Mounted on the star is a white metal laurel wreath. Within the laurel wreath is a garter in white metal and within that is a horse with a scroll above and below, all in white metal. Below this, is the regimental title "Royal West Kent" and below this again a scroll stating " 4th Volunteer Battalion". This unit was only raised in 1900, making the Victorian version exceptionally rare as Queen Victoria died on 22nd January 1901. The unit was disbanded in 1908. The helmet is in excellent condition for its age and would be an exceptionally fine specimen to add to a collection.