IN the Victorian era you could be sure to find military enthusiasts improving their skills on a shooting range somewhere is what became Cumbria.

The counties of Lancashire, Cumberland and Westmorland all had keen group of weekend soldiers with their own lavish uniforms and regalia which looked nothing like the standard uniforms worn by modern regular soldiers.

Some of those rare relics are being sold in the May 10 to 11 sale by London auctioneers Dix Noonan Webb.

The Volunteer Force was a citizen army of part-time rifle, artillery and engineer corps, created in 1859.

They formed part of the Territorial Force in 1908.

Territorials were only recruited for home defence but could - in time of national emergency - agreed to what was termed Imperial Service.

A splendid picture was taken of the Ulverston area territorials all in uniform outside the town's drill hall in 1914.

The bulk of them would have served overseas in the First World War with the 1/4th Battalion of the King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment.

There was as a much older militia which acted as a reserve to the regular army.

Men would volunteer and undertake basic training for several months at an army depot before returning to civilian life.

They had to report for regular periods of military training and an annual two-week camp. The militia became the Special Reserve in 1906.

An officer’s cloth helmet for the 1st Cumberland Rifle Volunteer Corps is expected to sell for £600 to £800 in the London sale.

It is from the period 1878 to 1883 and was originally retailed by Hobson and Sons of London.

A militia officer’s helmet plate from the Royal Westmorland Light Infantry, of the period 1878 to 1881, should sell for £400 to £500.

An officer’s helmet plate of the Royal Cumberland Militia, from 1878 to 1881, should make £400 to £500.