Help identifying this Blue Cloth Helmet Plate

[abu-klea]

Good evening all, I am hoping that someone will be able to identify the attached helmet plate for me; I thought maybe Royal Engineers Militia or just General Service. The plate and all the helmet fittings appear to be in silver. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[peter monahan]

We need help here, gentlemen! It was I who suggested Abu-klea post on this site, extolling the expertise of the group, so please don't leave me hanging, with egg on my face!

[i can do that quite well myself without any help. ]

[Mervyn Mitton]

abu-klea. Welcome to GMIC and I hope this will be the first of many posts.

Staff Officers have worn just the Royal Arms for many years - showing that they are not

Regimentally attached at that time. I think this could well be the case here - however, as always

with uniforms and insignia, there can be varying explanations. We shall have to see what

other Members think. Are there any names or markings inside ? Mervyn

[Michael Johnson]

Silver definitely rules out anything but Militia and Volunteers. If I still had my copy of Kipling and King it would be an easy matter.

[abu-klea]

Evening all, thanks for your posts and interest, I may have a break through; a member of a diferent forum has suggested that as the helmet has a ball, not a spike "it may be a Volunteer Medical Staff Corps officers helmet. Kipling shows the MSC and RAMC victorian officers helmet plate made up of royal arms and scroll below with "Royal Army Medical Corps", but from photographs of the period all the medical officers blue cloth helmets show the plate as being royal arms only. This plate was worn by Medical Staff Corps, Medical Department and post 1898 Royal Army Medical Corps in Gilt and in Silvered/white metal by the volunteer units."

A second opinion is always welcome but that does seem pretty concise.

[Mervyn Mitton]

Excellent, nice to have a firm identification. Also, a good reason to show all of an item in a photo when we post.