Pouch, officer, 2nd Volunteer Battalion, Hampshire Regiment, 1890 (c)

Blue wool cloth, red morocco leather with silver metal thread lace embroidery.

Rifle Volunteer units were raised in Hampshire from 1859. By 1881 they had been formed into battalion size units, which were linked with regular Army regiments in that year. These Volunteer Battalions remained in place until they were reorganised into the Territorial Force in 1908.

Pouches like this were worn on a shoulder belt, so that the pouch was positioned on the centre of the back of the wearer. The headquarters of the 2nd Volunteer Battalion were in Southampton.