Stuart Bates

One of my latest additions. A Blue Cloth to the North Staffordshire Regiment. It comes with matching storage/transit tin and the helmet also contains a paper label with the corresponding officer's name. It belonged to Lt. R.N.K. Colville 4th Battalion of the North Staffords. He was commissioned between 1906 and 1910 as he was promoted to Lieutenant on 15th August 1910 and held that rank in 1917. He does not appear in the 1918 Army List. Stuart

Here is the helmet plate Stuart

I bought the Royal Artillery Volunteers blue cloth because of the spike (1878 - 1881). Since neither the helmet nor the accompanying tin have any names I can't prove that the spike is correct but then again no-one can prove otherwise. Stuart

Hi Cathey & Rex, you must excuse my ignorance of swords but would you define exactly what a broadsword is? I did a quick google and take from that that it is not particular to the Scottish. BTW: I like the montage effect that you use for your photos and have been experimenting to improve my own presentation. Cheers, Stuart

I am having trouble locating suitable brass rivets to re-affix the name plate to the tin but in the interim have used brass split pins as below. Stuart

I know who you are and I want that cap Stuart

Hi Cathey & Rex, beautiful photo and fabulous dirk. The additional information is also very welcome as so often we are simply given a photo without any provenance, which admittedly is not always possible. BTW: welcome to the GMIC forum. Stuart

For me the weak dollar/euro/pound is a godsend. I well remember the days when the AUD was 50 cents or less and as low as 33 pence. Now the wheel has turned and I can buy cognac rather more cheaply some win and some lose as the wheel spins. I don't mean to gloat but it has been a long time coming. As to auction houses, if your only recourse is to postal/online bids you are on a hiding to nothing. I just don't bother these days. Stuart

I spoke to the fellow who actually removed the name plate and the paper label to the interior of the helmet and came up with some additional information on R.W.L. Lindsay as follows - Major Robert William Ludovic Lindsay (18 August 1905 – 6 September 2000) was educated at Eton College, Eton, Berkshire, England. He was educated at Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, Berkshire, England. He gained the rank of Captain between 1931 and 1934 in the service of the Trans-Jordan Expeditionary Force. He gained the rank of Major in the service of the Grenadier Guards. He fought in the Second World War. He held the office of Member of the House of Representatives (M.H.R.) [Australia] between 1954 and 1966, for Flinders. He was invested as a Officer, Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.) in 1971. I was told that he was the ADC to a Western Australian Governor but have yet to establish which one. To that end I have written to Government House in W.A. I was also told that he was Minister of Defence in the Menzies government but have not been able to establish that - maybe he was a Parliamentary Secretary. I trust that there is more to come. Stuart

Further to my post #107 of the ADC's Wolseley I have finally received the brass name plate for the transit/storage tin. It reads Capt. R.W.L. Lindsay, Grenadier Guards. I have tracked him in the army but could find nothing on his being an ADC. I will contact the Western Australian Government on Monday. But here is what I have found to date. Promoted Lt 29th January 1931 Grenadier GuardsLondon Gazette 9th June 1931 granted local rank of Captain whilst employed in the Trans-Jordon Frontier Force 27th April 1931. London Gazette 12th June 1931 seconded for service under the Colonial office 27th April 1931Relinquishes local rank of Captain in the Trans-Jordan Frontier Force 27th April 1934 Restored to the Regular Army Establishment 27th April 1934.Promoted Captain 22nd February 1936, 3rd Battalion Grenadier Guards Retires with a gratuity 3rd July 1937The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879-1954) Tuesday 17 May 1938 p 13 Article - PASSENGERS BY OTRANTO. The following passengers Joined the Orient mailboat Otranto. which sailed from Fremantle for London via ports, yesterday evening:—Dr. J . Hammond; Captain R. W. L. Lindsay; Promoted Bt. Maj. 22nd December 1944.Having attained the age limit of liability to recall ceases to belong to the Reserve of Officers 18th August 1955 Stuart

Brian, that is a very good point and I suspect that she didn't. I might have another bash at genealogy.co.uk but since I have little need to use it often am reluctant to pay for the service. However, I think that they have a one-off system for payment. Regards, Stuart

A relative in England, the family historian, has contacted me and says that she did not uncover anything about a Francis in the family, which is a shame. Stuart

Brian, a very nice group. Thanks for sharing Stuart

Now that theory is plausible Stuart

Here is the accepted patent documentation of Mervyn's cap as it shall henceforth be known Stuart

Hi Cathey, I know who you are and I want that cap No reply yet from the snipers! Stuart

Well Patrick I will never bid against a friend and if I see one, that say I already have, I will give you the details. A couple of friends in Adelaide asked me to comment on several pieces of headgear that a collector offered them. Unfortunately one was a Scots Guards forage cap which I desperately wanted but advised them to buy. Damn! One I would really like to have is that to the 2nd Dragoons with the Van Dyke band. Stuart

Here are the interior ventilation holes showing the mesh fitted probably to keep out insects. One can see a line of glue around the brim which we speculate may have had a veil attached also to protect the wearer from insects. Some of the work seems quite "professional" but some really amateurish - a real prototype. Stuart Photo courtesy of York Castle Museum

Here is an experimental Wolseley probably dating around 1933+. It has a visor attached to the helmet which covers a series of ventilation holes. I guess that it is not as daft as Mervyn's cap but needless to say it was never adopted. Stuart Photo courtesy of York Castle Museum

What a wonderfully daft idea that was. But am I surprised that it was not adopted? Not at all. Stuart

Patrick, a lovely example of the Cameronian's shako. Jock is a real brick and has secured a South Staffordshire blue cloth for me. I will post it as soon as it arrives. What are you looking for next? Cheers, Stuart

My apologies as the book is written by Captain R.J. MacDonald - no idea why I said Barnes. Probably in a hurry as usual. Kane's List, I find, refers to John Kane's List of Officers of the Royal Regiment of Artillery. I found it in the preface of MacDonald's book. Stuart

Toby, are these from your own collection? If so you might consider posting said collection on the forum? Stuart

Toby, it is fascinating as to how these things came about. BTW: have you heard of Kane's List which is cited by Barnes? Stuart

I found this photo of an Artillery Volunteer c1878 which clearly shows the spike. Stuart