The East Coast Rifle Volunteers (E.C.R.V.) were a volunteer infantry corps of the Indian Volunteer Force raised in the Madras Presidency, drawing their personnel from the Godavari and Vizagapatam “east coast” districts on the Bay of Bengal.
Formed in the late nineteenth century by amalgamating earlier local rifle volunteer units, they provided part‑time European and Anglo‑Indian manpower for internal security duties.
The corps wore khaki drill and used a bugle‑horn badge; this white‑metal shoulder title with horn over the letters E C R V is an early British‑made pattern worn by other ranks of the East Coast Rifle Volunteers, later redesignated the 38th East Coast Battalion during the First World War era.