NAM.1982-10-93-1

Gorget, Cinque Ports Battalion of Provincial Militia, 1779-1783. Gilt brass. Within a raised rim, an engraved central design of the Royal Arms with supporters and motto as used between 1714 and 1801, the crown being flanked by the royal cypher ‘GR’. On each of the arms, a circular wreath suspended from a vertical ribbon with a bow at the top. Within the wreath, a shield charged with the arms of the Cinque Ports (three demi lions passant gardant in pale dimidiated with and conjoined to as many demi hulks of ships, with no colours indicated). A similar gorget to this may have been worn by the Cinque Ports Volunteers, raised in 1794. However, the fact that this gorget is made of brass rather than copper indicates it may belong to the earlier period. Sometimes known locally as the Cinque Ports Volunteers, the Cinque Ports Battalion was raised in 1779 and disbanded in 1783.