Colour of the Royal Dockyard Battalion<br><p>The colour of the Royal Dockyard Battalion. It is made of blue silk, hand-sewn and painted with the monogram 'VR' in gold, a queen's crown above, surrounded by palm and olive branches. The colour has a white silk border. It belonged to Ebenezer Wood (1809-1891), a shipwright at Devonport Dockyard. He was promoted to Lieutenant Royal Dockyard Battalion 1 June 1848, and Captain on 3 May 1849.
</p><p>The dockyard battalions were formed in 1847 when the development of steam-powered vessels provoked worries about the vulnerability of England to invasion. A Royal Commission recommended strengthening the defences of the Royal Dockyards. Each yard formed a local protective force which was supplied with uniforms and arms. They practised drill after working hours, each man being paid 6d on hour overtime. The corps was broken up in about 1858.<br></p>
Colour of the Royal Dockyard Battalion
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