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The sword of Lieut. George G Weaving M.C. South Notts Yeomanry.

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George Greville Weaving was born in the village of Appleton, Berkshire, in 1894. As can be found with recruitment into the South Notts Hussars during the Boer War, the South Notts during the First World War found itself with recruits from further afield than the Nottingham area to meet the required numbers. Conscripted into the army in 1916, George G. Weaving was placed with the South Notts Hussars, first serving in Ireland, then Egypt, and then finally on the Western Front while attached to the Machine Gun Corps. During his time with the South Notts, George was to become one of ten South Notts Officer's to be awarded the Military Cross during the First World War. Like so many who witnessed the horrors of the First World War, George did not say much to his family about what he had witnessed. Thankfully, there is interest today with his descendants, most notably his great-niece, who has unearthed some of his wartime possessions and records to help piece together his story.  Born in ...
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Two Colonel's Challenge Cup tankards presented by Sir Lancelot Rolleston of Watnall Hall.

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  From the inter-squadron competition for the Lord Belper Colonels Challenge Cup, two tankards which were presented to members of D squadron (Wollaton troop), winners of the cup in 1905 and 1906, both presented by Colonel Sir Lancelot Rolleston as regimental commander. The Colonels Challenge Cup was instituted by the then colonel of the regiment, Lord Belper, in 1882. Prior to this, the evidence suggests that proficiency awards were given out by individual troop commanders to individual members of their troop. To standardise the process, Lord Belper supplied a large silver trophy cup to be competed for by each of the regiment's six troops (the  six troops reorganised into four squadrons in January 1893).  The competition was 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...
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Boer War Corporal, 20311 G. Walker 12th Coy (S.N.H.) Imp. Yeo.

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  The Queen's South Africa Medal of Lance-Corporal George Walker, 20311, 12th Company, 3rd Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry. With the five bars he was entitled to, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, and South Africa 1902. By pure coincidence, the field glasses belonging to George Walker were acquired for the collection in October 2024, found in Nottingham. His Q.S.A. medal recently surfaced in Canada! Thankfully both are now together in Nottingham.  George Walker was born in the Parish of St. Marys, Nottingham, in 1879. His address at the time of joining the South Notts Hussars was 7, Alfred Terrace, Abbotsford Street, Nottingham. A butcher by trade, he attested for the Imperial Yeomanry, South Notts Hussars, on 21st January 1901 at the age of 22 years and 3 months, and was given the number Trooper 20311. His attestation was approved by Colonel Rolleston on the 26th of January 1901 in Nottingham. Detailed to join the 12th Company, Imp...
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South Notts Yeomanry Cavalry horse furniture.

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  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 ...
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Watnall and the Battle of Britain myth

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Many people still believe that the RAF base at Watnall, the underground Control Room, and Headquarters of Fighter Command 12 Group took part in the most important air battle in history, the Battle of Britain 1940, where the German Luftwaffe attempted to defeat the RAF and then be in a position to force the UK to surrender or leave it open to invasion. Some of the most highly respected books on the subject of the Battle of Britain name Watnall as being the location of 12 Group Headquarters during the battle. In the modern world of online research, several historical research websites list Watnall as the location of the control room for the battle, as do some local historians. So why is this? RAF Hucknall had been in operation since the First World War. Over time, its role with the RAF changed. It was to become a training centre for flight crews and involved in aircraft repair and research in collaboration with Rolls-Royce, and by 1939, it was the location of the ...
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The Cavalry Sabre of Lieutenant-Colonel Commandant Anthony Hardolph Eyre

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  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...
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