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The Worcestershire Soldier
- Room 2 - Militia Tunic and Shako
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Militia Tunic and ShakoThe Militia were a very old home defence unit, dating back to Anglo-Saxon times. They were part-time soldiers, selected at random from each parish, who trained in their spare time and were 'called out' in time of civil unrest or invasion. The Worcester Militia helped to track down the Gunpowder Plotters in 1605, when Guy Fawkes tried to blow up Parliament, and served throughout the English Civil War in the 1640's. This uniform dates from the 1830's, after the Napoleonic Wars when the Militia had been on almost permanent duty. The hat (shako) and plume are so high and wide because they are supposed to make the wearer look taller and more impressive. |
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