Figurehead from the wooden ketch 'Volunteer', in the form of a small half-kneeling polychrome uniformed figure of a military volunteer, complete with hat and rifle. It is supported by a green scroll carving below. The vessel was an old coasting ketch that supplied the Isles of Scilly with coal. She had been built and owned in Aberystwyth and in 1908 came to Scilly, already 47 years old. Three years later she foundered on Culver Sands in the Bristol Channel and her owners then had the figurehead brought back to Tresco for the ‘Valhalla’ collection there.

‘Volunteer’ details at time of wreck. Wooden ketch of 65 tons, registered in Scilly. Built by Edward James, Aberystwyth, 1861. Dimensions (in feet and tenths): 71.1 x 18.6 x 8.2. Owner: Stephen and Rosamund Helen Jenkins. Registered voyage: South Wales to Scilly (?). Cargo: coal. Master at loss: W. Parkin (?). Wrecked: 26 January 1911.