Stuart Bates

I was alerted to this R.A. blue cloth on eBay http://cgi.ebay.co.u...E:X:RTQ:GB:1123 and the obvious question posed was why it had a spike instead of a cup and ball. Well I remembered this "problem" from a dialogue with Wilson Research, via GMIC, about May last year where I was asked to comment on an R.A. helmet http://www.militaryh...r.com/items/760 The answer is wrongly attributed there but then again with the few that I looked at they haven't yet got it together. Regardless the R.A. sported the spike untill 1881, according to Barnes in his book on R.A. dress, and then moved to the cup and ball. So the item on eBay may indeed be correct but who knows? Anyway, for those not familiar with the cup and ball, here is an example. Stuart

F.M. Sir John Louis (Ligionier), 1st Earl Ligonier, KB was colonel of the 7th from 1720 - 1749. Stuart

Ah, I mistook the lion rampant for the Welsh Dragon. I can see clearly now Stuart

Toby, I tried to identify the cap badge on the Yeomanry RSM's cap and the closest I could get was the 3rd Battalion The Monmouthshire Regiment. There are plenty of regiments/battalions sporting the Welsh Dragon but only the one with it rampant. Do you have the regiment to which he belongs? BTW: very nice photographs. Stuart

Robin, congratulations as it is always a bit of a coup to get complementary items Stuart

Toby, not being overly familiar with thse caps does the one you show have flaps held together by that strap with eyelets? Stuart

Those Plus-2s are a sight to behold. I wonder if anyone other than the perpetrator thought much of the look. Stuart

This is the only cap I had and since I have sold it to a fellow member no other photos, But what date would you put on this one? Further to my commments on the button backmark Jennens & Co I wonder if J.R. Gaunt kept using that nomenclature for a period after the amalgamation (take over?). Stuart

Mervyn, I have asked John about the significance of the poppies. Robin, the police are pretty hot on drink drivers all over Oz. There was even some crazy talk of a 0 BAC Brian, no am not coming over to the dark side but I do like the police badges. Brett, it is a novel method of display but effective. Stuart

My friend John Burridge sent these photos over from Perth and I hope they wil be of interest to members -

Jim, I certainly regret not having glass doors fitted but fortunately I don't seem to suffer moths, silverfish etc. here. Dust can be a problem and I have both an air-purifier and a dehumidifier to combat those aspects. I bought a clothes brush from a gentleman's outfitters and give them a light dust every 3 months or so. Stuart

Toby, if you supply me your great uncle's details I will attempt to find his Australian record. Or alternatively you could try yourself at http://www.ww2roll.gov.au/script/name.asp#topofpage Stuart

Ian, what is the construction of the shako? It would appear to be Melton cloth to the exterior, or is it felt, but what is the shell made of. I wonder just how waterproof these shakos were or if they had a foul weather covers as the army did. Stuart

Toby, I have corresponded with Graham quite a few times over the years and he is a top fellow. As to my avatar it is a forage cap to the Leinster Regiment. I have a particular fondness for these caps and only collect British Military headgear. Check out my collection if you care http://gmic.co.uk/index.php/topic/12757-my-british-headdress-collection/ Stuart

Toby, welcome aboard . Stuart

Hmm, why do I set these traps for myself Stuart

Thanks Ian. The red silk also indicates an officer's version. With a different helmet plate it would be an army helmet. A very nice piece of headgear. In Mervyn's book the Glamorgan helmet is also of the army style. Stuart

Clive, excellent helmets, please remember me in your will. Stuart

Alan, that makes sense as my father was born in Buckinghamshire and the photo was in his effects which I have inherited. My mother was born in Northants just a few miles from where my dad lived. Her maiden name was Bayes. Stuart

Tony, I forgot to say, again, that some of the police helmets are so obviously army ones i.e. they conform to the army dress regulations of the time. Stuart

Tony, I am a complete novice when it comes to police helmets and am just posing questions that I can't answer. However, I do question the veracity of the Prussian influence on them. I look forward to some substantial evidence of that. Stuart