I'm stumped as to what unit is represented this brass disc on a Lee Metford. I assume the "V" stands for "Volunteer" but I've scoured "The Broad Arrow" and other books to know avail. Anyone have any ideas? 1st GBRF?
I did wonder if the "GB" represented Gibraltar in some way...?
AH! Your suggestion has merit! The Royal Engineers supplied Fortress Companies to garrison various fortresses throughout the British Empire, one of which was Gibraltar. At the beginning of WWI men of the Territorial RE took over stations, releasing Regulars for duty with the British Expeditionary Force. There was a 1st Coy RE stationed in Gibraltar in 1914. Brought home, they were converted to an Advanced Park Company and became part of the BEF in France. They were replaced in Gibraltar by 1/4th Devon Electric Light Company RE TF. So, 1st GBRF makes eminent sense. Thank you!
The stock is dated 1900 so 3.98(?) on the disc is a somewhat odd. The wood does look entirely undisturbed around the disk although the screw appears to have had a good sanding at some point while the stock appears unmolested.
The disc being upside down is a bit odd as well, unless it was placed what way for easier reading in a rack. Fortress small arms, like those of the Navy spend most of their lives in racks.
"G.B." for Gibraltar is highly doubtful as the use of two letters for a single word seems not to have ever been the practice AFAIK.
If it is "3.08" and "1.C.B.R.F" then there is a chance it might refer to the 1st City of London Battalion Royal Fusiliers, but I can't be sure that was ever their proper designation. The battalion/regiment was formed in 1908. Royal Fusiliers - Wikipedia
Might also be "1st Garrison Battalion Royal Fusiliers":
By the outbreak of the First World War (1914-18) the regiment already had four regular battalions, but raised 43 more reserve, service, labour and garrison battalions. These served in Africa, the Middle East, Macedonia, Gallipoli and the Russian Civil War as well as on the Western Front. 3rd and 4th Battalions were disbanded in 1922 and the remaining two regular battalions served in England, Germany and India during the inter-war period.
Apparently quite a few well known infantry regiments also had garrison battalions for home or fortress duties in the WWI era, whose soldiers were older or physically sub-par.
“There are invisible rulers who control the destinies of millions. It is not generally realized to what extent the words and actions of our most influential public men are dictated by shrewd persons operating behind the scenes.”
I've done a deeper dive into "The Broad Arrow" and found one mention of Gibralter which was shortened to 'GIB" for the Royal Artillery Staff stationed there. It's on P. 128 and shows GIB over R.A.S. So the convention appears to be that a lack of periods denotes one word while conversely a period after every letter denotes each letter is a seperate word.
“There are invisible rulers who control the destinies of millions. It is not generally realized to what extent the words and actions of our most influential public men are dictated by shrewd persons operating behind the scenes.”
“There are invisible rulers who control the destinies of millions. It is not generally realized to what extent the words and actions of our most influential public men are dictated by shrewd persons operating behind the scenes.”
PM
Originally Posted by Strangely Brown
