The badge is in fact a cap badge of the 6th Volunteer Battalion The Gordon Highlanders. The badge was worn from 1891 to 1908 when the battalion became the 6th (Banff and Donside) Battalion, The gordon Highlanders and adopted the badge worn by the regular battalions. Lord Haldane the Secretary of state for war, formed the Territorial force out of the Volunteer movement in preparation for a European war he thought was inevitable.