Mervyn Mitton

**MISTAKE - Sorry ! **

Thomas - as you say - how did it get to Somerset West. Great item - Smith's were one of the major clock makers of that period. I wonder if Coldstream can tell us any more details of the ship - she looks like 1st. WW ? Would this be a County class cruiser - as with HMS Belfast in the Thames? Kev - wasn't Kilburn also a big area for Irish ? I seem to remember escorting a serious march, which ended with the attack on Downing Street. This was after the 13 were killed on 'Bloody Friday' -, or, was it Sunday ?

Darrell - were you lucky enough to get his Kimberley Star. They always seem to get separated, which is a pity. I have the original volume put out by the Town of Kimberley immediately following the Boer War. It gives every unit and where they served - will check your man for you. With such a big collection , it would be good if you had the time to print a list of the Units you have represented ? Mervyn

I will post a few pictures of the plume holder and hackle - not often that you see them away from the headgear. Probably worth as much as the Busby. Has 7 flames - so must be RA - what do you think Leigh ?

I've been enjoying these old photos - but, someone please tell me, how did they get 'lumbered' with those awful caps ?? They look as if a committee designed them....

Sam - I'm surprised that members seem to have missed your post - I was thrilled to see these two awards ! Both officers' and with such limited numbers in the issue, makes them rare and valuable. The South Australian contingent was - if I remember correctly - quite a small one. Having landed in Capetown they would have moved , by railway, through the OFS and then Belfast and the other Transvaal battles. There must be local books that cover their exploits - and your research will probably be more effective in Aust. archives. Hopefully, though, one of the members will have access to record books - they never fail to amaze me with the info. they come-up with. Best wishes Mervyn

Leigh - I thought this was the right sub-forum ? Do we have another one ?

I always think of this as the High Constable's Staff. Note, this one includes Prince of Wales feathers - could this indicate Wales - or, borders of Wales ?

I have always identified this part of the regalia - as the Sheriff's Staff. The copper showing through the silver, is considered very desireable with Sheffield Plate.

You will see the stand marks near the end of the handle

I must be honest and say, that I really had no idea where to post these? None of our headings really cover them, since they are Civic, rather than Police. I have had them for some 30 years - a dealer had kept them for me at the giant Newark Fair - these three and a a long wooden staff with the head of a tonsured monk ( monks used to shave the centre of their head) . The story that he gave me, was that they had come from an old Masonic Hall and had been 'stage props'. I realised at once, that they were nothing of the sort and so added them to my collection - where they've been out of place, not being Police. I took the three feet staff (90 cm) to the Victoria & Albert Museum and they identified it as a 16th. Century hand treadled piece ( mid-fifteen hundreds). I decided it was either for a gatekeeper of a monastry or, for an inn keeper. They often had large staves to defend themselves - in any event, the head was probably St. Thomas aBeckett ( Archbishop of Canterbury) - murdered by Henry 2nd. I mention all of this because it gives provenance to the maces , which had also been identified as stage props. I suppose, if the truth was known, they were given away from a large house as unwanted items. There are three pieces - the Mayoral Mace is easily identifiable and would have been carried in procession and then stood in a holder - upright - in front of the mayor. You can still see the two circular marks in the wood where it was stood. The other two pieces could be for the Sheriff and for the High Constable - however, they did not always closely follow our set ideas and therefore, it is possible they were carried by other functionaries. They all have the same type of arms - Dolphins and scallop shells - with the cross pate on top, representing the authority of the Crown. Their composition is Sheffield Plate - invented in 1741 by a man in the Midlands of England , named Thomas Bolsover. The principle was to make a sandwich of silver -copper - silver and roll it out on the new rolling mills. Highly collected it can be worth more than solid silver. These are dated between 1800 and 1820. Their rarity is beyond question - Town regalia does not get given away - it goes to the local Museum - however - there is one possible explanation. In the early 1800's 'greedy and rapacious' Lords of the Manor had Parliament pass an Act, known as the Inclosure Act - this took away the common lands for pasture and crops, that had always been given to 'commoners'. Once they lost their land many towns and villages were unable to support themselves and literally, disappeared - even after hundreds of years in existance. My opinion is that these come from such a defunct town and the regalia was taken by the Lord of the Manor - and later, just given away. My reason for posting this long subject is simple - can any members make suggestions for where these may have come from ? The arms are probably for the POOLE family - who had estates in the North - near Chester. The arms are also similar to Poole in Dorset - however, I have checked and although they lost their mace set in the 1850's , they were recovered. Christies - the auctioneers - thought they were connected with Plymouth - but, I have never agreed with this. Any suggestions will be welcome - a 'modern' mystery ? NEVER POSTED PREVIOUSLY - THE AUTHOR RETAINS COPYRIGHT. NOT TO BE COPIED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION.

Great series, Leigh. Full of valuable info. and your pictures are superb.

The two sea cadets are straightforward - perhaps someone can identify the ships for the others ?

I agree fully with your comments - however, it wasn't 'Teflon' Mubarak I wrote to, but Anwar Sadat - gee! I'm getting old. Soon need Stogieman to de-bug me !! (But, ' T..G'.. -I don't look like Rick's picture - which is superb....)

I was going to post these under Africa - but it doesn't get too many, and I don't like my name up all the time. So - hint,hint-please post on Africa, I've got some lovely prints waiting. These blazer badges- all South African - are beautifully made - the Signals is bi-lingual and has Queen's Crown - The Imperial Light Horse and Durban Light Infantry are from WW2 period. The two brass collars are DLI. The one on the right shows the two running wildbeeste - who are part of Natal's old arms.