Formed in 1853, the Antrim Artillery was a volunteer artillery unit based in Antrim, Northern Ireland. Despite being disbanded in 1919, they served in the Boer War and during the First World War manned the forts at Kilroot and Grey Point, defending Belfast Lough.
I’ve been a collector of militaria since childhood, with a focus on early photographic postcards, technical pamphlets and documents in recent years. During my regular searches (mostly on eBay) I’ve come across and been able to purchase two items relating to the Antrim Artillery. The first was a copy of the Textbook of Gunnery, internally stamped Kilroot Battery, Antrim Artillery. More recently I found a painted glass pane with the Antrim Artillery crest. I believe this to be original, and it may have once been installed in a camp HQ, or maybe the Officers’ or Sergeants’ mess. Owing to its potential historic significance, I commissioned the piece to be framed and protected for potentially another 100 years or so.