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

Mr Frank E. Woodhams, a competent amateur marine artist for a time, was residing at Watnall Hall in March 1916. Lady Maud Rolleston herself was a well-known amateur artist with an interest in the world of art; possibly she knew him from local circles of the art world and decided to take him under her wing.  How long he was staying there is not known; however, during a gathering at the Hall on 20th March 1916, the tradition of those attending signing a sheet of paper was followed. Mr Woodhams, rather than signing his name, added a small colour painting to the sheet of paper, rather than just his signature.  During his stay, Mr Woodhams painted a series of seascapes entitled " The British Battle Fleet in the North Sea". At least three paintings were produced for this. Possibly due to the influence of Lady Maud, his work was exhibited at the City of Nottingham Museum and Art Gallery, a local artists' exhibition, presumably sometime in 1916. One of the three known paintings s...

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 ...

  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...

  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...