Watnall Troop S.N.Y.C. local history

 A  rare mid Victorian Cavalry Troopers hand book. Printed by Forman of Nottingham in 1849. A seven inch tall, sixty eight  page book. The book was issued to Private  67 John Lowe of "A" (Holme Pierrepont) Troop,  he book gives details of military horsemanship including how to care for the horse. Swordsmanship,lists of words of command for use during parade and manual exercise. Cleaning and maintenance of arms and kit. Sword exercise, dressing, marching, etc.Carbine exercise is very detailed. It describes the loading and firing of a percussion muzzle loading carbine. Given that these instructions were written in 1849, at this time this would refer to the smooth-bore Enfield 1844 Patt percussion Yeomanry carbine which records show were returned to the Ordnance in 1853 to be replaced with rifled percussion carbines with Minie rifling, the loading procedure still the same.  Numerous handwritten amendments  throughout including half a page blanked out, and a section added. To the

  Another Martini-Henry Cavalry carbine has come to light recently marked to the Nottinghamshire Yeomanry. The butt stamped, Y over NTT.S over 236. Previously recorded was an identical carbine with identical marking, but with the individual number of 166. It is still unclear as to whether the "S" refers to Sherwood, or South for either of the two respective  Yeomanry regiments of Nottinghamshire. Some swords with similar markings with the "Y", and "NTT" have also had "SN", and presumably, swords issued to the Sherwood Rangers would be marked "SR", but the observed carbines only carry "S". It may be that both units were supplied with firearms from the same armoury somewhere in Nottinghamshire, and therefore firearms were only marked as belonging to the Notts Yeomanry, rather than one, or the other of the two regiments.  Both carbines carry a store's date in the 1880's, one clearly marked 1886, the last digit on the othe

 A pair of cased field glasses by one of the worlds best optic makers, Ross of London. One tube engraved "S.N.H.", the other with the issue number of "66". The case lid stamped "S.N.H.", and the base with the same issue number of "66". Also written at the base of the case, "Cpl.Walker". The writing now a  little faded, but the full lettering can be made out when held against angles of light. The set remains in excellent overall condition.  It would be interesting to know when the South Notts Hussars acquired these field glasses, and how many. With this one being number 66, maybe it was the case that every man was issued a set, or maybe just the Officers and N.C.O.s. Were they may be purchased by the South Notts Hussars in their preparations to embarch for South Africa, field glasses being of much use for mounted troops in the vast expanses of land across the South African landscape.  George Walker was born in the Parish St Marys Notting

 Shorthose's Queen's South Africa medal along with the five bars he was entitled to, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, and South Africa 1902. His medal records his rank of Corporal, and his number, 20299.  One of the local volunteers taken to the South African campaign by Captain Rolleston William Belfield Shorthouse was born in Cotmanhay Derbyshire 5th July 1878. In the 1881 census, at the age of 2 he is shown as living with his family in 4 Church Street Ilkeston along with his parents and several siblings. After his schooling, William went to work for his father, a successful local timber and coal merchant and Colliery proprietor.  William had been serving with the 1/3rd Sherwood Foresters Militia Battalion. With the outbreak of the Boer War, and the following early setbacks on the front, the call went out for volunteers to join local yeomanry units to bolster numbers in the campaign. William completed his attestation forms for the Imperial Yeoman

 J.R. Gaunt of London and Birmingham, probably one of the world's most prolific badge makers, and during the first world war, maker to the Nottinghamshire Yeomanry, and some of the war time Sherwood Foresters Territorial Battalions.  The standard Sherwood Foresters badge was a two part nickel and gilt brass badge. Until recent years, it was thought that the one piece S/F badge was part of the 1916 war economy drive to speed up, and reduce the costs of WW1 British cap badges. Many regimental badges which were two parts, two materials were simplified to a single brass stamping. Collectors had thought that the single piece brass Gaunt S/F badge was part of this scheme.  Badge collectors have since concluded that at some point, Gaunt was contracted to produce one piece brass badges for Nottingham's Yeomanry and Territorial Battalions. This contract may have been paid for privately, as all examples carry the commercial "J.R.GAUNT LONDON" maker tablet to the back, this appl