jholl72

Hi Mervyn, There are threads on the uniform to hold a ribbon bar. The War Department stamp is a bit of a question at this point. I have heard several theories but none are concrete. One is that a quartermaster would have had an issue tunic. Another is that post WWII the CG would have had issue uniforms. And the third, I read that some tailors picked up old issue items and then tailored them and sold them to officers. Again, nothing concrete on those theories. The tunic certainly has more age than post WWII, so I think that does not apply. I haven't yet researched the name in the trousers but will attempt that this week.

Hey guys, Picked this up yesterday at the Toronto show. Beautiful uniform grouping, I`ve narrowed the date to between 1895-1902. Its not named in the tunic but the pants have a label but its been resewn, so not sure if they are original to this tunic or just an add on to complete the set. Anyway I really like it! http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_03_2013/post-895-0-05130800-1363550780.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_03_2013/post-895-0-28911300-1363550845.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_03_2013/post-895-0-74444800-1363551053.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_03_2013/post-895-0-55485200-1363551140.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_03_2013/post-895-0-61164500-1363551244.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_03_2013/post-895-0-89922800-1363551404.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_03_2013/post-895-0-17720000-1363551493.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_03_2013/post-895-0-67137500-1363551595.jpg

Hi Mervyn and Patrick, Thanks for the information and feedback. I have contacted the plumery and am working on getting a replacement plume holder and plume. They are beautiful helmets and I will be picking up the suggested reference material as I find myself interested in this area of collecting now.

Liner

Hey guys, It was suggested I post this over here for some help from Stuart. I picked this up at auction, actually left an absentee bid and don't have it in my possession yet although I did win it. It is my first foray into this type of headgear and admit I know nothing about it. Was hoping someone could clue me in a little to what it is, what plume I need to complete it, where to find such a plume, etc. Also any good reference sites or books that you can recommend would be great.

Hi guys, It has been a year since I posted this topic and I have not been able to add any new information to it. I have contacted the 34th CER's and they had no information. I contacted the Quebec provincial archives and the City of Montreal with no luck. I have also been in touch with the War Museum in Ottawa and the National Archives in Ottawa with no luck. I have even contacted the Engineers Museum in the maritimes with no luck. Is this regiment that rare? I thought I would bump this one back up and see if anyone else had some input.

Hi guys I just picked this on up on the weekend. It is different from he one that started this thread, but I was wondering if it is WWI or WWII? Can anyone clue me in please!

1900 Officers Dress Regulations... LANCERS 385. Cloak and Cape - Blue cloth, of the same pattern as for Officers of Dragoon Guards and Dragoons, lined with scarlet, white lining in the 17th Lancers. In the 12th Lancers the collar of the cloak is scarlet, and in the 21st Lancers it is lined with French grey. DRAGOON GUARDS AND DRAGOONS 320. Cloak and Cape - Blue cloth, of the same pattern as for rank and file; to reach the ankles when worn on foot. White shalloon lining in the 2nd, 3rd and 6th Dragoon Guards and 1st and 6th Dragoons; scarlet in other regiments. Collar of cloak of white cloth in the 6th Dragoon Guards, red in the 1st Dragoons, black velvet in the 7th Dragoon Guards, and blue cloth in the ohter regiments. Red lining to the collar in the 1st Dragoon Guards and 2nd Dragoons. Buttons of regimental patterns. Shoulder straps of the same material as the garment; a small button at the top. ROYAL HORSE ARTILLERY 425. Cloak - Blue cloth, with sleeves. Stand-and-fall collar with three black hooks and eyes in front, and three small flat silk buttons at the bottom to fasten the cape. Round loose cuffs, 6 inches deep. A pocket in each side seam outside, and one in the left breast inside. Four buttons down the front. A cloth back-strap, to fasten with a large flat silk button at the top of each pocket; a similar button in front on the right to hold the end of the back-strap when it is not buttoned across behind. White shalloon lining. The cloak to reach within 8 inches of the ground. Shoulder straps of the same material as the garment; a small button of regimental pattern at the top. A gusset behind as described in paragraph 14.

I have lots more pics if anyone is interested.

buttons

pics

more pics

Well, I took the plunge again and have the cloak in hand today. Here are some more detailed pics of it. It certainly matches many features described in the RHA cloak description, except the buttons to hold the gusset closed, there are no buttons there nor is there any evidence to suggest buttons were ever there. There are the two pockets on the side seams and the inside left breast pocket. The belt has been modified, but still shows a button hole, perhaps the one described above. The pips are a mismatched pair, the darker one has left an imprint in the strap, indicating it has been there a long time...but may not be original. The hem of the cloak is unfinished and all buttons have been resewn. There is a stamp on the inside sleeve, Chrisdies...I have attempted a quick search on this and have turned up nothing so far. The coat is old and shows lots of signs of wear. So the adventure begins again on the research end of things...anyone know of any good reference books for me to buy?

Dear Mr. H, Thank you for your email. I am afraid that we cannot definitely confirm the date of the garment of which you sent pictures but would point out that it is a cavalry cloak not a greatcoat. It is not usual to have a belt on a cavalry cloak. From research in our records, it does not appear that officers’ pips were put on shoulder straps in the 1860s and the two pictured do not seem to be a pair. The pip on attachment 12334 looks modern. The button shown does look to be a 16th The Queen’s Lancers one. The Regiment amalgamated with the 5th Royal Irish Lancers to become the 16th/5th Lancers in 1922. Best wishes, David Nalson, Volunteer

Hi Guys, I have an opportunity to pick up this coat, but don't know enough about Victorian era British uniforms to know what I am doing. Can anyone offer any help or point me in the right direction. I have already contacted the Regiments museum and will post that reply in my next post. 16th Royal Lancers greatcoat from circa 1861 to 1922, although it has Victorian Crown buttons. It appears to be a dark blue to black colour. Is this a period coat that you are familiar with.

Hi guys, Thanks for the information. It is an old piece, no question and it was not horrendously expensive...but not cheap either. I took it to the Etobicoke Militaria Show today and had a couple of people look at it and both liked it. One suggested it might be an enlisted mans uniform, converted to an officers uniform as they wouldn't have been issued another uniform in those days. Lawrence, thanks for the information. I have been on the website and didn't see any contact information for the 34th, but will look into it a little deeper now that I have some time. I will post it on the forum you have linked, thanks. I have found several period newspaper articles involving the Montreal Engineers through an online search. I will post some of the more intersting ones, once I figure out how to save a copy to my computer.

The US buttons don't belong on this uniform and are not original to it, I know that. I am not trying to establish whether they belong on it or not, they don't. I was just spitballing about why they might be on there because they are on there and someone put them on there for a reason. But that is not important, if the rest of the uniform is good, that is important. In fact the seller didn't provide or mention that the bottom buttons were US. I specifically asked as in his overall pic of the front of the uniform the bottom two buttons looked different. He replied they were all the same. I have the basis for a return right there, but really want to know if the rest of the uniform is OK. I have my doubts, that's why I am looking for others opinions.

Yes it is a US button, as mentioned in my post. It appears to be the same vintage as the other buttons and the uniform itself. I wondered if they had been added perhaps by a museum/collector to replace missing buttons that would be near impossible to find.

last pic, more available is needed.

hook and eye closures.

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Blue collar underneath bullion collar

sewn up button hole from the inside.

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