18th century grenadier cap

The design on this velvet embroidered grenadier cap depicts the arms of Sir John Hobart, Earl of Buckinghamshire, who was Lord Lieutenant of the County of Norfolk. He raised the Norwich Artillery Company in January 1746 for the defence of the City against possible invasion during the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745-1746. This rare item of headdress could have been worn by one of only four officers serving in the Company, including Hobart himself, and is unique in bearing the arms of a private individual rather than the Crown.

Ad-hoc units like the Norwich Artillery stand in a tradition of part-time soldiers who have supplemented the standing Army. These forces were often assembled to resist invasion or for maintaining domestic order. Later examples include the Militia, Territorials and Home Guard.

Purchased with the generous assistance of the Society of Friends of the National Army Museum and the Art Fund (formerly the National Art Collections Fund or NACF).