Memorabilia

British WWI Jerkin Lot

1915 pattern brown leather jerkin has three plain and one embossed knot leather covered buttons secured by rings on the interior; jerkin is lined in gray blanket wool with a large but illegible stamped marking on the base at the interior.  Leather shows stains and light wear but remains in very good pliable condition, with some stitching that has given way in places around the shoulder and collar.  

Lot further includes a heavy khaki cotton duck jerkin with visible but illegible BroadArrow stamp between the third and fourth buttonholes on the light olive blanket wool lining.  Buttons are leather covered metal, secured by rings on the interior.  Exterior shows stains; interior has a large worn hole in the bottom right corner of the lining.

US WWI jerkins are quite common, and post-war British Jerkins are as well, but the WWI British leather jerkin as easily distinguished from it's American cousin by the wide shoulders is nowhere near as easy to find!  $300 - $500

WWI British / Commonwealth Highland Troops Kilt & Uniform Coat Lot

Includes highland cut khaki wool service dress coat with Sergeant rank chevrons and British General Service buttons, stray stitches and pulls in the fabric indicate where additional insignia was once located above the chevrons.  Epaulettes are pierced where shoulder titles were once installed, but have been removed.  Interior has drab white cotton facings and pockets, slight traces show where a paper label was once attached.  The coat shows stains and normal wear, but no conspicuous mothing or anything detractive.

Second is a nice example of an issue kilt in Black Watch tartan, nicely marked with a soldier's name and date on the interior band "K.G. Frazier 6/5/15".  

Lot also includes a khaki cotton cover for wear over the kilt in the field.  This is BroadArrow marked on the interior side of the band.  It shows a few stains and small holes. 

$400 - $600

An officer's service coat from a premier unit in His Majesty's service.  Khaki olive wool twill open-lapel coat has subdued Captain rank pips on the epaulettes, Royal Welsh Fusiliers regimental buttons, and subdued regimental collar insignias.  Back of the collar features the black ribbon queue flash that is used solely by this unit.  Has several small holes in the back, a few more around the bottom buttonhole, and an area of (paint?) discoloration on the base of the right lower pocket and skirt.  No name or initials.

The Royal Welsh Fusiliers, one of the British Army’s most distinguished regiments, served with exceptional valor throughout the First World War. Comprising both Regular and Territorial battalions, the regiment fought in nearly every major theater of the conflict, including the Western Front, Gallipoli, and Mesopotamia. Their ranks included both seasoned professionals and wartime volunteers drawn from across Wales. At battles such as Ypres, the Somme, and Passchendaele, the Fusiliers endured appalling conditions yet maintained a steadfast reputation for discipline and courage.

$500 - $600

British WWI Somerset Light Infantry Soldier's Identified P07 Service Coat

British / Commonwealth Pattern 07 khaki wool five-button service coat has a partially legible soldier's service number, name, and unit "1/5 Somerset L.I." in purple laundry pen on the lower right interior pocket.  Coat has a short standing collar with the 'double-dart' feature, British General service buttons, three blue service chevrons, and Lance Corporal rank chevron.  Interior has a nearly complete paper label with maker and 1918 date.  This coat has Somerset Light Infantry shoulder titles that I believe likely to have been added to complete the coat for display, as they are of a quality inconsistent with original examples.  It also has a Somerset Light Infantry "JELLALABAD" stringed horn badge sewn to the center back as a formation sign, which may also be something added to complete the display.  Regardless of one's opinion of the titles and formation sign, this is an excellent example of a P07 coat, and I am fully confident that the ID inscription on the pocket is original and correct. 

$500 - $700

WWI British / Commonwealth Highland Troops Kilt & Uniform Coat Lot

Includes a nice Canadian made highland pattern khaki wool service dress jacket which has British general service buttons.  This shows signs of having once had shoulder titles, but no evidence of collar insignia remains.  Interior has a small bit of paper label remaining and the olive facings are marked with a C-BroadArrow stamp, as well as numerous post-war costume house markings.  A nice coat with just a few small holes.

Kilt remains in very nice condition, of Black Watch tartan, unmarked.  Includes a khaki cotton kilt apron for field service, which has stamped markings on the interior.  

Lot further includes a pair of gray wool knit hose tops, 1914 dated highland gaiters, a blue wool Glengarry dated 1915, and a Glengarry with Seaforth Highlanders badge.  This has normal wear along the edges and on the ribbon tail. 

$500 - $700

Regulation pattern light gray wool flannel pullover shirt has the blue and white striped standing collar introduced in August 1914. Bib front placket closes with tin utility buttons and a strip of white cotton at the base. Has a London costume house label sewn in the collar, BroadArrow stamp visible in the neck.  The 'grayback' shirt was standard issue in the British Army for many years before the war and continued in service throughout the conflict. Despite being issued in the hundreds of thousands, these very utilitarian shirts tended to be used until used up, with only a lucky few to be found in private collections or museums today. The gray issue shirt makes an enlisted 'Gor Blimey' cap appear almost common by comparison!  This excellent example appears to be unissued. $800-$1200

British WWI Issue Gray Flannel Shirt

Regulation pattern natural gray wool flannel pullover shirt has the blue and white striped standing collar introduced in August 1914. Bib front placket closes with tin utility buttons and a strip of white cotton at the base. Has maker's firm " STOLLERY, FIFIELD, & MANTLE" in the collar, The 'grayback' shirt and later war was standard issue in the British Army for many years before the war and continued in service throughout the conflict with the natural gray shade coming in to use later in the war. Despite being issued in the hundreds of thousands, these very utilitarian shirts tended to be used until used up, with only a lucky few to be found in private collections or museums today. The gray issue shirt makes an enlisted 'Gor Blimey' cap appear almost common by comparison!  This excellent example shows very little use.

$800-$1200

British WWI Rifle Brigade Soldier's Uniform Group with Issue Shirt

A nice extensive grouping with P07 service coat, greatcoat, issue trousers, and the very scarce 'grayback' issue shirt, though it survives with only with a former owner's notation that the soldier's identity was "R. Morgan".  

Pattern 07 service dress coat of khaki wool has the 'double-dart' construction feature between the collar and rifle patches, "RB" Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own) Regiment shoulder titles, Lance Corporal rank chevrons, three (faded from blue to khaki) overseas service chevrons, and a well-worn pistol lanyard.  Interior has a mix of natural and drab canvas facings and pockets, with a good portion of the paper label remaining.  Issue trousers have the doubled suspender buttons used after June 1915, and are double-stitched at the pocket bases.  Interior white cotton lining has BroadArrow issue stamp in the waist.  His issue greatcoat includes features of the wartime produced 1902 pattern such as turnback cuffs, but omits the pocket interior tabs.  

The featured item, though is this regulation pattern light gray wool flannel pullover shirt with the blue and white striped standing collar introduced in August 1914. Bib front placket closes with tin utility buttons and a strip of white cotton at the base. The front remains nice, though there is a patch of moderate moth damage on the reverse.

Even without an ID or provenance, the similarity in soil and wear suggests the plausibility that the components of this set have been together since the war, and finding sets that still include the particularly scarce elements such as the issue shirt and trousers does add weight to that idea. 

$2500 - $3500

British WWI Memorial Plaque: James Henry Buffey, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry

Bronze memorial plaque with original carton; "JAMES HENRY BUFFEY".  Records indicate that Private Buffey served in the 8th Battalion, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, and was killed in action on August 25, 1917.  He was buried at Perth Cemetery in Ypres.  Has an old dealer's informative price sticker on the reverse.  

$100 - $150

Includes Canadian Prince of Wales Regiment of Fusiliers buckle, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry buckle, a single "CANADA" shoulder title, Artillery specialist badge, and nine cap badges of which seven are British, one Canadian, and one Australian.  

Medals include a War Medal and Victory Medal pair with rim impressed to Private "H.C. SANSOM" of the Notts & Derby Regiment, unmounted ribbons.  Also, a War Medal and Victory Medal pair with rim impressed "LIEUT. T.F. MORRISON", with ribbons mounted to a suspension bar.  Special Constabulary Service Medal isa George V issue, impressed on rim "LIEUT. HUGH A. CARTER".  Lastly, a War Medal and Victory Medal pair of miniatures.

$100 - $200

British WWI Chaplain's Insignia & Pocket Gospel Lot

A collector-assembled lot for display, includes an original photograph of a British Army Chaplain, one cap badge, one collar badge, and a 1914-1915 Gospel of Saint Luke.

$50 - $100

British steel helmet is the early 'rimless' variety.  Retains 80% tectured olive finish; interior has a nice complete second pattern liner with felt crown pad intact.  Lacks the paper tag, and the chinstrap suffers from red rot.  $100-$200

British WWI issue helmet has third pattern Brodies liner with fully intact felt crown pad and a nice pliable brown leather chinstrap.  Excellent finish inside and out - a particularly nice example.  $100-$150

A nice example, has 80%+ olive finish.  Interior has an excellent, intact third pattern liner with gray felt crown pad and a nice condition chinstrap.  Lacks only the paper tag.  $100-$150

Both of these are 'rimless' WWI British helmets, but each have heavily worn black painted finish.  One has a commercially altered liner with the third pattern style 'donut' in the crown, complete with brown leather chinstrap.  The second has a thick crown pad with a broken black leather chinstrap.  I recall that back in the 1990's a number of these turned up in Britian that had been refurbished for use as police / fire brigade helmets after their military service careers were over.  Few still exist in that configuration as they were snapped up by reenactors to be refitted once more as Great War helmets for living history.  $100-$150

British WWI issue helmet has second pattern Brodies liner with largely intact felt crown pad with instruction tag and a nice pliable brown leather chinstrap.  Retains 80%+ textured finish, oxidized patina where worn.  Chinstrap has a soldier's initials.  $100-$150

Two WWI British helmet shells, neither of which retains liner or chinstrap.  Both have dark olive exterior finishes.  One has a clearly visible red arrow on blue rectangle formation sign designating 2nd Canadian Division Machine Gun Battalion.  $100-$200

British / Commonwealth WWI Helmet Lot: Three Helmets

Three WWI British / Commonwealth Helmets:  First example has nice khaki textured finish; interior has third pattern liner with felt crown pad intact and a broken chinstrap.  Second has dark textured olive finish with oxidation showing through the worn areas; interior has second pattern liner with felt crown pad largely intact, chinstrap is a replacement.  Third has worn but good exterior finish; interior has third pattern liner with the felt crown pad missing, as is the 'donut' rubber cushion element.  Chinstrap on this one is also replaced. 

$100 - $200

British helmet has dark patina and traces of dark olive finish; sides have faint but legible painted formation signs that appear to be a rectangle divided into thirds: green, black (or dark blue) and green.  Interior is similarly rough with a very well-worn second pattern liner and a replacement black rubberized fabric chinstrap that is now quite inflexible.  I had a look through Kevin Beckhurst's reference on formation signs and did not locate this one, but am thoroughly convinced that it is original to the helmet.  $100 - $150

British helmet has dark olive textured finish; sides have clear painted horizontal red line formation signs.  Interior has third pattern Brodies liner which lacks the felt crown pad, chinstrap is intact and pliable.  I had a look through Kevin Beckhurst's reference on formation signs which revealed that there are several candidates - at least five different units utilized this simple formation sign for identification.  $200 - $300

Very early production rimless Brodies helmet has 60% early (and only) apple green painted finish.  Interior has worn but intact brown leather chinstrap with buckle adjustment, and a complete first pattern Brodies liner.  These early, true first pattern Brodies helmets are rarely available on the market, and are one of the true collectors' 'holy grail' pieces of First World War headgear.  $1000-$1500

Brodies with a nice complete third pattern liner is fitted with a faded khaki field camouflage cover painted with a red inverted triangle formation sign on one side.  The cover is stretched taut over the crown, exhibiting rust stains from prolonged close contact with the helmet and some minor worn / weak spots along the edge.  Without unduly disturbing this relationship, I have gently loosened it just enough to get a small pen light in to see if there was a matching painted formation sign on the helmet side (there is not).  

Per the Kevin Beckhurst reference, this formation sign could actually apply to a few different units over time, but assuming the helmet with the 3rd pattern liner is original to the cover, which very much appears to be the case, the precludes some earlier uses of the insignia and leads to the conclusion that this designates 12th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment.  $1000-$1500

Includes cap cover with Royal Army Clothing Department sealed sample tag listing pattern date 1912 and subsequent notations dating into the early 1930's.  Second, the Pattern 8180/1914 "cover, cap, waterproof" for use with "caps, winter, service dress", of khaki rubberized fabric with folding ear cape and twill tape ties.  Third, a water repellent khaki canvas cap cover with neck cape and tape ties, nicely marked on the crown interior.  Fourth, a khaki rubberized fabric cap cover with nickel finish snap fittings and a long neck cape.  $100 - $150

WWI Sidecap Mixed Lot Including Austrian Cavalry & British Private Purchase Cap

Includes Austrian Cavalry red wool sidecap with "FJI" Franz Joseph cockade on the front.  Cap has several moth bites in the ear cape and along the bottom edge; interior has blue striped white silk lining with several illegible stamped property markings.  

British officer quality private purchase khaki wool twill sidecap has folding ear cape with British general service buttons in the front, fitted with Royal Warwickshire tongue back badge on the side; interior has cream colored silk twill lining.  

Lot further includes two dark blue piped horizon blue wool sidecaps, one of which has an American maker stamp embossed in the (damaged) sweatband, revealing that these are US Forty and Eight (WWI veterans) Society caps.  Also includes a French style olive drab wool sidecap with beige ribbon sweatband. 

$50 - $100

British / Commonwealth WWI Headgear Lot: Four Caps

Includes a Canadian khaki wool Tam O’Shanter, a blue wool Balmoral bonnet with red and white band dicing and a Glasgow maker's label on the black silk interior lining, heavy wear along the bottom edge.  Also includes a green and white diced Glengarry cap with British Army drummer proficiency badge on the side, and a nice khaki wool sidecap with RFC buttons and cap badge on the side.  

$150 - $200