3rd Battalion, Victoria Rifles of Canada Pith Helmet c.1879-90

This is a nearly complete 3rd Battalion, Victoria Rifles of Canada Pith Helmet with badge/plate dating after the Battle of Eccles Hill, May 25, 1870, which was part of a raid into Canadian territory from the United States led by John O'Neill of the Fenian Brotherhood, intended to pressure Great Britain to grant sovereignty to Ireland. Eccle's Hill is marked on the badge to commemorate the battle and the part played by the 3rd Battalion. This helmet is in excellent original condition with some age soiling, nice patina on hardware and badge, part of the interior head band is missing as is the top. This example is museum collection labeled. The Victoria Rifles of Canada was an infantry regiment of the Canadian Army that originated in Montreal, Quebec, on January 22, 1862, as The 3rd Battalion, Volunteer Militia Rifles Canada. The regiment went through several changes of designation throughout its history. It was re-designated as the 3rd Battalion, The Victoria Volunteer Rifles of Montreal on July 18, 1862; as the 3rd Battalion, Victoria Rifles of Canada on December 5, 1879; as the 3rd Regiment, Victoria Rifles of Canada on May 8, 1900.