Gorget of Royal Kilmarnock Volunteers

A gorget worn by the Royal Kilmarnock Volunteers during the 19th century.  Gorgets hung from the neck area of an officer's uniform and had developed from the part of suits of armour designed to protect the neck area in earlier centuries, by this time however they served as badges of rank.  The Kilmarnock Volunteerswere the oldest corps of Ayrshire Volunteers and were eventually incorporated in the Fourth Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers.