Posts

South Notts Yeomanry Cavalry horse furniture.

Image
  A rare pad cheek horse bit. In steel with cast brass bosses to either side. Garter edging with the script "SOUTH NOTTINGHAMSHIRE YEOMANRY CAVALRY" and a Victorian crown in the centre. Dating from the mid-Victorian period. Although the name for the regiment started to appear as being the shorter version, the South Notts Hussars, from the mid-1870s, it was not officially named as such until 1903. It may well be the case that equipment such as this horse bit was still marked with the official name of the South Notts Yeomanry Cavalry right up until the end of the 19th century; as such, the exact date of this horse bit is hard to pin down. That said, the construction of the steel scrollwork can be seen on examples attributed to dating from around the 1870s; as such, this piece was most probably made in that period.  Along with two charger throat plumes, one with black horsehair, the other with red and white horsehair. Before 1897, the Nottinghamshire Yeomanry used ...
Read more

The Cavalry Sabre of Lieutenant-Colonel Commandant Anthony Hardolph Eyre

Image
  Possibly the earliest item relating to the Nottinghamshire Yeomanry in existence. The sword of the regiment's first commander, and captain of the Retford Troop, Anthony Hardolph Eyre.Previously a time served professional soldier, he was commissioned as an Ensign in the 1st Foot Guards in 1776, made Captain in 1778, and rose to be the regiments    Lieutenant-Colonel in 1787. Retiring from the regular army in 1790. With the Government establishing the Yeomanry cavalry volunteer force in 1794, he became Captain of the newly formed Retford Troop, and  appointed  Lieutenant-Colonel Commandant of the whole Corps receiving the Regiments Standard in Nottingham's Market Place in 1795.  It is fair to assume that from his previous military career,  Anthony Hardolph Eyre already owned a number of swords. It may stand as good testament to how seriously he took his new role in 1794 as the  Lieutenant-Colonel Commandant of the new...
Read more

Two books from the library of Watnall Hall, and the 1954 auction

Image
  Two very rare books by Thomas Kirkland  (1721 - 1798)  given to Lancelot Rolleston  (1737 - 1802) by the author have recently come to light. In the library of Watnall Hall from the 1790's till sold off in 1954, they were discovered in Jersey by a book dealer in 2022. In the sale of the contents of Watnall Hall held in December 1954, they were described as  --  437 Kirkland (Thomas) A Commentary on Paralytic Affections , full calf, London 1792 438 Kirkland (Thomas) Essay on different branches of Medicine, half calf Both books have personal dedications inside to Lancelot Rolleston  from Thomas Kirkland . It is often found that libraries in such Great Halls and Houses have a family book label to the inside of the front board with name and crest of the family. Neither of these books do, which suggests that the Rollestons of Watnall Hall did not choose to have library labels made. Unless any of the many other books sold in the auction have personal d...
Read more

1894 presentation tankard of the The Colonel's Challenge Cup

Image
  Henry Strutt, 2nd Baron Belper, originally a Liberal Politician for Derbyshire was made Lieutenant - Colonel of the S.N.Y.C. in 1879 replacing Colonel Earl Manvers. A position he held until 1896 when he was replaced by Colonel Lancelot Rolleston. He became a member of the House of Lords in 1880 replacing his father.  In 1882, Lords Belper presented for use by the Regiment,a large silver trophy which was to become known as, The Colonel's Challenge Cup. A competition established by Lord Belper to be held each year to promote friendly rivalry between the Squadrons and promote high standards of efficiency. Four members from each Troop would compete to be adjudged the best for display, the best efficiency, smartness, cleanliness and best horsed. Each year, the winning troop's captain would be the holder of the cup until competed for again the following year. At the start of the following year's competition, the cup was placed on the officers' me...
Read more

The 1802 Notts Yeomanry Stand Down Medal.

Image
 Silver medal presented to members of the Nottingham Troop by Lord Newark in 1802 in commemoration of their important services.  Along with many other Regiments, the South Nottinghamshire Yeomanry was established in 1794 in response to fears of a French invasion during the Napoleonic Wars as a potential home defence force. Organised into four Troops including the Nottingham Troop. The S.N.Y. never saw service against the French, but while established did take on the role as a civil defence force for civil unrest. In April1795 the Nottingham Town Troop assisted the Inniskilling Dragoons in quelling the Nottingham Bread Riots. The Regiment was again called in to assist the Army, this time  the 12th Light Dragoons in further rioting in 1796. Two more riots occurred in 1800, the first in April quickly quelled by the Yeomanry, and a more serious riot in August which lasted for three days and involved looting shops and granaries. This riot was...
Read more

The I.Y.L.S. Medal of Sergeant J. Goode, D Troop.S.N.H.

Image
 The Imperial Yeomanry Long Service Medal is a particularly rare medal, only 1674 awarded, 56 of which were awarded to the South Notts Hussars.Over fifty Yeomanry Regiments qualified for the award to their members. Authorized by King Edward VII in 1904, and awarded for 10 years service with the Yeomanry, and attending 10 annual camps. In use only for a short period of time being replaced by the Territorial Force Efficiency Medal in 1908, the Yeomanry having been transferred to the newly created Territorial Force in 1908.  522 Sgt John Goode appeared on the 1894 Muster for D (Wollaton) Squadron. Sgt Goode did not go with the Regiment to South Africa in 1901, possibly due to his age or occupation.  The first presentations of the Imperial Yeomanry Long Service Medal to the South Notts Hussars occurred in 1905. At the annual church parade at the regimental church of St' Mary's,Sunday,May 14th Colonel Rolleston had a muster of nearly four hundred....
Read more

Silver Cigarette holder presented by Colonel Trotter, 1912, to the Sergeants Mess

Image
 A silver cigarette holder with lidded compartments either side, one lid engraved with the badge of the South Notts Hussars, the other engraved with the details, "Non Commissioned Mess, South Notts Hussars, from Colonel C.W. Trotter 1912".  Hallmarked for London 1903, and with the maker's mark of Joseph Brahma.   This presentation was most likely made by Colonel Trotter at the time of the Non Commissioned Officers Mess opening at the new Territorial Army Headquarters, the Drill Hall on Derby Road Nottingham.  The Drill Hall was completed in around 1910. A fine quality baroque revival style building with drill / parade ground to the rear. Officially opened by General Sir John French, February 22nd 1912. Whilst in Nottingham for the opening ceremony, General Sir John French was the guest of the newly Knighted Sir Lancelot Rolleston and his wife, Maud Rolleston at Watnall Hall. The Territorial Headquarters was now the new headquarters of the So...
Read more