Stuart Bates

Patrick, it has been a while since I have viewed your collection. It is superb with many additions since I was last around. Stuart

Jerry, what a fascinating story to accompany the cap. A real coup. Stuart

Just added a pillbox to the 14th Hussars. It is to a Sergeant Trumpeter and not only did I secure his full service record but also his medals and an inscribed fob watch, as well as some photographs. Quite pleased Stuart

I found this on an excellent website - http://www.arrse.co.uk/wiki/Service_Number Every serving soldier was allocated a new number in this system and the soldier then kept this number for the rest of his army career. Thus 4611078 Pte Mitchell enlisted in The Duke of Wellington's Regiment but later transferred to the ASC and kept the number. The third system was introduced during WW2. Large numbers of men were being conscripted and sent to a central depot where they had their medicals and were allocated a number BEFORE being posted to a regiment. It was too much of an admin cluster for the central depots to administer the old regimental numbers so a single system of army (as opposed to regimental) numbers was introduced. These numbers were allocated in blocks in the 14xxxxxx, 16xxxxxx and 19xxxxxx series. It was this process that was rationalised into the 1950-2007 numbering system. A Rough Guide - 1950 to date Army Number Date of Issue 22000000 to 22199408 Until October 1950 22199409 to 22460786 Until February 1951 Stuart

Thanks Tony. Stuart

It is interesting but, somewhat disappointing from the view of the original question, that in Brian L. Davis' book British Army Uniforms & Insignia of World War Two, in the Appendix on army numbers there is a giant leap from 16,100,000 to 97,000,001. The former being REME and the latter being Non-Combatant Corps. Stuart

I have a photo of a St. John's ambulance officer wearing this cap. I make it a point to never give valuations as that is far too fraught. Stuart

British metal cavalry helmets were made in three pieces; two sections for the skull and one for the front peak. The seams were covered by a vertical strip of foliage at the rear and a horizontal one to cover the join at the front peak and the skull. The rest of the join was covered by the helmet plate and the spike and base. Stuart

Royal Navy Wolseley. The headband was patented in 1923. Stuart

I agree with Jerry the headband looks to be Vero's patented one of 1925. The foil lining was patented in 1933 but I think it was experimented with in the very late 19th century. Cavalry normally used the "hogspear" spike with the "petal base" but anything is possible. The "high-hook" is that as used to hold the chinchain on Lancer Schapkas. Stuart

It is a St. John's Ambulance cap. Stuart

So Brian, here we go http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_09_2014/post-1883-0-79956200-1412116616.jpg? But no only my last two posts on this topic have the edit button. Stuart

Kris, rather a nice uniform indeed. Stuart

Sorry I meant 1925 in my last post. It was a foil lining that was patented in 1933. Stuart PS. where has the edit button gone? I see it has returned on this post but not my others.

Hi Jerry, I am interested in seeing the caps you have in mind, but be assured that I never bid against friends who have got there before me. Cheers, Stuart

Damn right! It is an especially good book on the subject. Perhaps the definitive one. Stuart

Infantry - plus a couple of cavalry Wolseleys - Stuart