Shooting prizes/awards

[Mossy]

Recently i picked up a nice silver shooting fob for the 1st L.A.V. (Launceston Artillery Volunteer) carbine club, awarded to "Bombr. Dick, No. 8 Company" in 1892. The front has a shield with the following inscription "H.D. to M.H.", not quite sure what that means, any ideas?

What occoured to me as i bidded on the piece was how short some volunteers' service could be in Australia, even as low as two and three years. This being because of either lack of interest in the volunteer movement, or financial recession, or even a towns population dropping. In addition, the Colonial LS&GC medal/s were for twenty years service and the earliest was introduced as late as 1892. Logically, all of what could be left of some volunteers service would be fobs and prizes such as these.

In this case, however, the 1st L.A.V. was formed quite early and was eventually rolled into the Federal forces during the re-organisation following federation.

Unfortunatly my scanner is off line, so no photos of this piece.

Please post your own pieces or thoughts on what place these unofficial prizes have in militaria collecting. Some people see these as little tid-bits that hold no real interest as they are not an officially sanctioned medal or award, whilst others (Including myself) view them with a little more interest. I have seen a medal bar where the recipient had his award mounted with his Colonial LS&GC and Victoria LS&GC medals, so he obviously felt similar, though it's worth noting he also had two other sports awards that are unmounted.

Sam.