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Auction: 21124 - Spink Numismatic e-Circular 9: British and World Coins & Commemorative Medals
Lot: 6188

"It may at once be said of the great Volunteer Review held at Windsor on Saturday, that whether regarded as a mere military spectacle or as an attempt to mobilize the Volunteer force of this country on a gigantic scale, it was a magnificent success - the crowning achievement of the Volunteer movement....The plan of the War Office was to call to arms in all parts of the country, and to throw them into Windsor within a period of less than 24 hours - in other words to effect such a mobilization of 111 Corps of the Volunteer force as a sudden invasion of our shores by a foreign enemy would demand"
(Army Auxilliary Forces) Volunteer Review at Windsor, 9 July 1881, AE Medal, .VOLUNTEER REVIEW. WINDSOR., HELD BY HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN within Garter, DEFENCE NOT DEFIANCE JULY 9TH 1881 on banner below, rev. Coat-of-Arms of Queen Victoria, within Garter, surmounted by crown, 25mm, extremely fine, with integal suspension hoop and ring, presumed very rare

According to the official estimate, the various corps mustered 52,240 men, but many regiments exceeded their estimate by 50 and 100 and few fell under it, so that on a moderate computation the total force assembled was not less than 55,000 men." [The Times]. The comparative strength of the entire British Army in 2021 is placed at 80,000 strong, with a further 29,000 in the Volunteer Reserves.

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Sold for
£35

Starting price
£20