Eton College Home Service helmet, 1871 pattern, British (c 1880)

Title	Eton College Home Service helmet, 1871 pattern
Nationality	British
Period	c 1880

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Eton College Rifle Volunteers helmet, worn by Arthur Henry Bromley-Davenport while at Eton, 1881-1885 (his name is inked in on the lining). This comparatively rare helmet in other ranks format (I've never seen an officer's version) was worn by the College Cadet Corps from about 1880 to the Great War (ie 1914).

Davenport was a quite well-known actor/theatre manager in the Edwardian period. There is an extensive half-page biography of him in 'The Old Public School-boys Who's Who - Eton', first published in 1933. Minor moth-tracking to surface cloth, otherwise in generally excellent order throughout except for fading to the original colours (cornflower blue bands on a light purple backcloth).

The 2nd Buckinghamshire Volunteer Rifle Corps became Eton College Officers Training Corps in the 1920s. The original unit, the Eton College Volunteer Rifle Corps, was raised in 1872.

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[Militaria : Headdress : British : 19th Century]

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