Founded in 1873, the Houston Light Guard is the oldest militia company in the state of Texas. From 1873 to America’s entry into World War I, the Houston Light Guard mobilized to restore peace during race riots, political feuds, and labor strikes, as crowd control during fires and public executions, for the Spanish-American War, 1900 Galveston hurricane and border control during the Mexican Revolution. During both world wars the Guard served with the 143rd Infantry Regiment. The rare gold badge offered here features the date “1886”, “P.B. TIMPSON” name tag and Galveston clasp denoting that P.B. Timpson was attached to the Guard when it was activated for the 1900 Galveston Hurricane, the deadliest U.S. natural disaster in history, which caused 6,000-12,000 fatalities and caused $31.35 million in damages. By 1916 period newspapers listed P.B. Timpson as president of Houston Land & Trust Co. Provenance: The Robert B. “Bob” Berryman Estate Collection

Excellent, retaining nearly all of the enamel.