Two Colonel's Challenge Cup tankards presented by Sir Lancelot Rolleston of Watnall Hall.

 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 and best horsed. Each year, the winning troop's captain would be the holder of the cup until it was competed for again the following year, the competition taking place in May.


Colonel Sir Lancelot Rolleston, who presented these two tankards, was no stranger to the Colonels Challenge Cup. As captain of B squadron (Watnall troop), which he commanded from 1875, he was the most successful squadron commander in the 1880s, his Watnall troop winning the first competition held in 1882 and again in 1884, 1885, 1886, and 1888. In 1888, Captain Rolleston also held the rank of honorary major. Major Rolleston took command of the regiment from Lord Belper in 1896. Major Rolleston was gazetted as the commanding officer of the regiment and promoted to the rank of Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel, passing command of the Watnall squadron to Captain Seeley. From 1897 as Lieutenant-Colonel and honorary Colonel. With the outbreak of the Boer War in 1899, Colonel Rolleston took the regiment to war; under his army commission of captain, he commanded the South Notts Hussars as the 12th Company of the 3rd Battalion. Imperial Yeomanry. Captain Rolleston served with great distinction in the conflict; being severely wounded, he was shot while leading a charge against the Boers while attempting to rescue 500 British prisoners. Sir Lancelot Rolleston holds the unique distinction of being the most highly decorated yeomanry officer to have served in the Boer War. For his actions while in command of the 3rd Coy, 12th Batt, Imperial Yeomanry, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and Mentioned in Dispatches. Later awarded the Knight Commander of the Order of Bath, he became Colonel Sir Lancelot Rolleston. Sir Lancelot held command of the regiment until 1906, presenting the latter of these two tankards in his final year, and then passed command of the regiment over to Colonel Trotter. 



       A painting of Sir Lancelot Rolleston from around the time of the presentation of the tankards










Popular posts from this blog

RAF WATNALL SPINNEY

Image
  Another place in Watnall close to my heart with fond memories is Watnall Spinney to be found at the end of Trough Lane, along Trough Road. It would have been either 1980 or 1981 that I first visited the area. I went on a play-day to my school friend's house, Richard Johnson who lived on Rolleston Crescent. He told me about the Hall which once stood where his house was now which I was fascinated by. We called for our mutual school friend, Paul Horton. We then went over Richard's back garden onto the fields beyond. They showed me the graves for the first time. They were completely overgrown. Paul seemed to have inside knowledge that there were in fact graves inside. The gate could just be made out and a small tunnel through the overgrowth through which someone had crawled through in the past to make the discovery. I remember the rusty locked gate and some of the fence was visible, but I remember the surrounding fence being much taller than what is there now, - but then again, ...
Read more

THE BARBER FAMILY OF GREASLEY

Image
  Along with the Rollestons of Watnall Hall, there was another family of the landed gentry in our area, the Barber family of Lamb Close House Greasley. In close proximity to each other, there are close historic ties between the two families and similarities. Both families have memorials placed in St Mary's Church in Greasley. Both families were noted for their charitable donations to the local community. One notable comparison between the two families was the strong tradition amongst the landed gentry to give the new born sons the same name as the father. This led to a succession of Lancelot Rollestons and Thomas Barbers. The strongest tie between the two families can be found in the history of the local regiment, the South Notts Yeomanry. Both families had a long run of officers in the local unit. The Watnall Troop of the South Notts Yeomanry established in 1817, its first two officers were Lancelot Rolleston, and Thomas Barber. Several more officers were supplied through the 19th...
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