Height: 10.5cm (4.2in)
Silver. Tapering body with barrel loop banding, the front engraved ‘A mark of respect / from Capt Bennett commanding / Cinque Port Volunteers at Feversham / to S.M. Chambers for his assiduous / attention in training the Corps prior to their / being reviewed on the 28th November 1803 / by / the Right Honble Wm Pitt Colonel.’ Hallmarked London 1803.
William Pitt the Younger became Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports in August 1792, but while serving as prime minister played little role in their defence. However, after his resignation in 1801 he took on a more active role. In 1802 he formed the three battalion-strong Cinque Port Volunteers who were responsible for the defence of Hastings, New Romney, Hythe, Dover and Sandwich, along with the two 'Antient Towns' of Winchelsea and Rye. Until his return to office in May 1804 Pitt often drilled his men in person in his capacity as Colonel Commandant.
