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

 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...

 The Troopers of South Notts Yeomanry had been armed with the flintlock 1794 pattern Light Dragoon Pistol. A pistol with a nine inch barrel of .65 inch bore. An observed example of which is a privately purchased pistol, not uncommon for Yeomanry units,and therefore does not bear the Crown over G.R. to the lock, and is engraved "NOTTS YEOMANRY" to the side nail plate. Presumably the Ordnance also supplied flintlock Light Dragoon Pistols to the Regiment at a later stage.  With changes to the arms carried by regular cavalry regiments, the issuing of pistols to the regular cavalry ceased in 1838 in favour of the more powerful carbine with the new percussion ignition system. This also prevented the ordnance from having to replace all of the flintlock pistols with the new percussion ignition system. At this point, the ordnance started to convert its stores of flintlock firearms over to the new percussion ignition system.  On 13th May 1844, the...