Silver Hallmarked North Yorkshire Light Infantry Militia Cross Belt

~ Silver Hallmarked North Yorkshire Light Infantry Militia Cross Belt ~

The black leather cross belt consists of an ammunition pouch & belt with silver & white metal fittings.

A silver Officers whistle with acanthus leaf decorations is attached to the lions head boss via four parallel chains.

The main badge is a North Yorkshire one (presumably for the North Yorkshire Light Infantry Militia) regimental buckle: a laurel wreath with a central tudor rose with Queens crown and ‘North York’ banner below that. It has a brass backing plate with four screw, lugs & washers. The same fittings fasten the whistle and boss.

The pouch has a silver Yorkshire Tudor Rose to the front and acanthus leaf side decorations. The interior has a wooden block to hold five cartridges. A label can be found on the inside of the ammo pouch but it is degraded and unreadable.

The whistle and boss are silver hallmarked for Birmingham 1908 with a ‘J R G & S’ stamp for J. R. Gaunt & Son.

~ Cross Belts ~

In the British army the cross belt was originally used to carry a sword. With the introduction of specialized Rifle regiments the cross belt was adapted to carry an ammunition pouch and the whistle which was the main means of communication between officers and soldiers in the noise and heat of battle.

~ Dimensions ~

The belt has a total length of 37 inches (94 cm) and a height of 3 inches (7.5 cm). It weighs 615 g.

~ Condition ~

There is some minor wear &scuffing to the leather. The silver is in excellent order with clear hallmarks.