Project Gutenberg's Chats on Military Curios, by Stanley C. Johnson This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license Title: Chats on Military Curios Author: Stanley C. Johnson Release Date: February 26, 2015 [EBook #48366] Language: English Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHATS ON MILITARY CURIOS *** Produced by Chris Curnow, Karin Spence and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive) 1 BOOKS FOR COLLECTORS With Frontispieces and many Illustrations Large Crown 8vo, cloth. CHATS ON ENGLISH CHINA. By ARTHUR HAYDEN. CHATS ON OLD FURNITURE. By ARTHUR HAYDEN. CHATS ON OLD PRINTS. 2 (How to collect and value Old Engravings.) By ARTHUR HAYDEN. CHATS ON COSTUME. By G. WOOLLISCROFT RHEAD. CHATS ON OLD LACE AND NEEDLEWORK. By E. L. LOWES. CHATS ON ORIENTAL CHINA. By J. F. BLACKER. CHATS ON OLD MINIATURES. By J. J. FOSTER, F.S.A. CHATS ON ENGLISH EARTHENWARE. By ARTHUR HAYDEN. CHATS ON AUTOGRAPHS. By A. M. BROADLEY. CHATS ON PEWTER. By H. J. L. J. MASSÉ, M.A. CHATS ON POSTAGE STAMPS. By FRED. J. MELVILLE. CHATS ON OLD JEWELLERY AND TRINKETS. By MACIVER PERCIVAL. CHATS ON COTTAGE AND FARMHOUSE FURNITURE. By ARTHUR HAYDEN. CHATS ON OLD COINS. By FRED. W. BURGESS. CHATS ON OLD COPPER AND BRASS. By FRED. W. BURGESS. CHATS ON HOUSEHOLD CURIOS. By FRED. W. BURGESS. CHATS ON OLD SILVER. By ARTHUR HAYDEN. CHATS ON JAPANESE PRINTS. By ARTHUR DAVISON FICKE. CHATS ON MILITARY CURIOS. By STANLEY C. JOHNSON. In Preparation. CHATS ON BARGAINS. By CHARLES E. JERNINGHAM. CHATS ON OLD CLOCKS AND WATCHES. By ARTHUR HAYDEN. LONDON: T. FISHER UNWIN, LTD. NEW YORK: F. A. STOKES COMPANY. 3 CHATS ON MILITARY CURIOS BRONZE MEDALLION OF THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON. Frontispiece. 6 Chats on MILITARY CURIOS BY STANLEY C. JOHNSON M.A., D.Sc., F.R.E.S. WITH EIGHTY ILLUSTRATIONS NEW YORK FR ED ER I C K A . S TO K ES C O M PA N Y PUBLISHERS 7 TO G. M. J. THIS BOOK IS GRATEFULLY DEDICATED (All rights reserved) PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN 8 CONTENTS PAGE LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 13 CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION 17 Preliminary considerations—Where to search for curios—What to search for—Specializing—Undesirable curios—The catalogue of the Royal United Service Museum—Public collections of military curios CHAPTER II REGIMENTAL NOMENCLATURE 27 Household Cavalry—Dragoon Guards—Cavalry—Artillery —Engineers—Guards—Infantry, both past and present nomenclature—Other units CHAPTER III REGIMENTAL CRESTS 39 The fascination of regimental crests—How to plan a collection of crests—The changes which crests undergo— The meaning of crests—Mottoes on crests, and their meanings CHAPTER IV MILITARY UNIFORMS 53 The growth of uniforms—The effect of the decline in armour on uniforms—The part played by Elizabeth— Uniforms in the time of the Civil War—In Charles II's reign—James II—The first two Georges—Uniforms in the Peninsular War—The close-fitting uniforms of George IV—The changes which were brought about in William IV's time—Later changes—Peculiarities of the military dress of to-day CHAPTER V ARMOUR 69 The scarcity of good armour—Considerations for the collector—Counterfeit armour—The twelve periods in armour—The characteristics of each period—Glossary CHAPTER VI WEAPONS 89 Buying specimens—Storing them—Hand culverins—The serpentin—The wheel-lock—The flint-lock—The rifle —Swords—The effect of armour on swords—Swords with historical associations—Other weapons CHAPTER VII EARLY BRITISH WAR MEDALS 105 How to arrange a collection of medals—Factors which influence the value of a medal—The earliest medals— The first English medal—The first English military medal—The Forlorn Hope medal—The Dunbar medal —The Culloden medal—Medals granted by the Honourable East India Company—The Pope's medal, 1793—The Emperor Francis II of Germany's medal, 1794—The Seringapatam medal—The Egyptian medal, 1801—The Rodriguez medal—The Nepaul medal—The Maida medal—The Peninsular Officers' medal CHAPTER VIII 9 10 MILITARY MEDALS STRUCK BY THE MINT 135 Campaign medals considered—Waterloo—Burmah—China— Cabul—Jellalabad—Scinde—Meanee— Sobroan—The men's Peninsular medal—Punjab—Indian General Service medals—South Africa, 1850- 3; also 1877-9—Baltic—Crimea—Indian Mutiny—Abyssinia—New Zealand—Later awards CHAPTER IX MILITARY DECORATIONS AWARDED FOR SPECIAL SERVICES 163 The necessity for special awards—The Victoria Cross—The Order of Merit—The "Distinguished Conduct in the Field" award—The Distinguished Service Order—The Meritorious Service award—The Long Service and Good Conduct award—The "Best Shot" medal—Volunteer decorations—Other decorations CHAPTER X MILITARY MEDALLIONS 181 General considerations—The "lost wax" process—Hadrian's medallions—Renaissance examples—Simon, the medallist—Wyon's work—Public collections—Some noted medallions described CHAPTER XI MILITARY PRINTS 195 The period 1750-1860—Works including military prints—Where to search for bargains—The kind of print most sought after—Works including fine military prints—Bunbury—Gillray CHAPTER XII MEMORIAL BRASSES OF MILITARY INTEREST 209 Classes of military brasses—Rubbings and how to make them—Floor brasses, their characteristics— Palimpsest brasses—What may be learnt from brasses—Mural tablets CHAPTER XIII AUTOGRAPHS OF GREAT SOLDIERS 221 The fascination of autograph collecting—Points which influence the value of an autograph—Autographs classified—A "Schomberg" letter—The notes scribbled by Airey at Balaclava—General hints—Prices of autographs CHAPTER XIV WAR POSTAGE STAMPS 241 The earliest war stamps—Stamps used in the Crimean War—The British Army Post Office Corps—The Sudan Expedition—The South African campaign—The Great War—Recent war stamps and postmarks—Indian war stamps—Other war stamps CHAPTER XV WAR MONEY 261 French obsidional notes—Mafeking notes—The Napoleonic assignats—Charles II and University plate—Mints at Carlisle, Beeston, Scarborough, Newark, Colchester, and Pontefract—Irish gun money CHAPTER XVI CURIOS MADE BY PRISONERS OF WAR 287 11 12 Objects recently made in Holland—The Napoleonic prisoners at Norman Cross, Perth, Dartmoor, Stapleton, Liverpool, and Greenland Valleyfield CHAPTER XVII MISCELLANEOUS MILITARY CURIOS 299 Considerations respecting miscellaneous curios—Battlefield souvenirs—Regimental colours—Odds and ends of dress equipment—Books and newspapers of military interest—Royal souvenirs—Official military documents—Gruesome relics—Relics of the Great War CHAPTER XVIII A HISTORY OF ONE'S COLLECTION 317 Reasons for compiling a history of one's collection—The part played by photographs—Armour suggested as an example—Material for grangerizing BIBLIOGRAPHY 323 INDEX 337 ILLUSTRATIONS LIST OF PLATES A BRONZE MEDALLION OF THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON Frontispiece PAGE QUEEN VICTORIA'S CHOCOLATE BOX SENT TO THE SOLDIERS FIGHTING IN SOUTH AFRICA, 1900 23 PRINCESS MARY'S CHRISTMAS BOX SENT TO THE SOLDIERS FIGHTING IN FRANCE AND BELGIUM, 1914 23 BADGE OF THE QUEEN'S (ROYAL WEST SURREY REGIMENT) 2ND FOOT 33 BADGE OF THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH'S (WILTSHIRE REGIMENT) 33 BADGE OF THE KING'S (LIVERPOOL REGIMENT) 33 BADGE OF THE ROYAL WARWICKSHIRE REGIMENT 33 BADGE OF THE ROYAL DUBLIN FUSILIERS. 43 BADGE OF THE ROYAL FUSILIERS (CITY OF LONDON REGIMENT) 43 BADGE OF THE SEAFORTH HIGHLANDERS (5TH BATTALION) 43 BADGE OF THE ROYAL REGIMENT OF ARTILLERY 43 SOME REGIMENTAL BUTTONS 49 A HORSE AMULET BEARING THE DEVICE OF THE ROYAL FUSILIERS 57 HELMET PLATE OF THE ROYAL MARINE LIGHT INFANTRY 57 A SLEEVE FROM A COAT OF THE OLD 2ND (SOUTH MIDDLESEX) VOLUNTEER REGIMENT 67 A BELT BUCKLE FROM THE SAME REGIMENT 67 A FLINT-LOCK PISTOL 77 THE ACTION PART OF THE ABOVE 77 THE BARREL OF A GUN ORNAMENTED WITH A TWIN HEAD OF MINERVA 85 AN OLD POWDER-FLASK 85 A SOUTH AFRICAN POM-POM SHELL AND A MARTINI-HENRI CARTRIDGE 93 CARTRIDGES AS USED IN THE GREAT WAR. FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: GERMAN, FRENCH, BELGIAN, AND BRITISH 93 AN OLD SWORD WITH STRAIGHT CROSS-GUARDS 101 13 14 AN ITALIAN DAGGER HAVING A REPLICA OF THE FAMOUS COLUMN OF ST. MARK FOR GRIP 101 ROYALIST BADGE WORN BY THE PARTISANS OF CHARLES I 109 THE CRIMEAN MEDAL 117 THE GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL, 1793-1814 123 THE AFGHAN MEDAL 123 SOUTH AFRICAN MEDAL, 1877-9 123 THE INDIAN MUTINY MEDAL 133 THE CHINA MEDAL, 1842-60 145 THE EGYPTIAN MEDAL, 1882-9 145 THE SUTLEJ MEDAL 157 THE PUNJAB MEDAL 157 THE THIRD INDIAN GENERAL SERVICE MEDAL 157 THE QUEEN AND KING'S SOUTH AFRICAN MEDALS, 1899-1902 (The same reverse was used for both pieces) 171 A CHECK TO CORSICAN ASSURANCE By Cruikshank 191 NAPOLEON'S CARRIAGE ARRIVING AT THE LONDON MUSEUM By Cruikshank 199 A SINGULAR TRAIT OF BUONAPARTE'S FAVOURITE MAMELUKE By Cruikshank 207 A BATTLEFIELD SOUVENIR PICKED UP ON THE PLAINS OF FLANDERS (The same helmet is shown with and without the cloth covering) 217 A BATTLEFIELD SOUVENIR BEARING VERSES SHOWING THE BLOODTHIRSTY NATURE OF THE TYROLESE PEASANT AND SOLDIER 227 AN OLD MUG BEARING THE FAMOUS PICTURE DEPICTING "THE DEATH OF WOLFE" 237 A SOLDIER'S COMMUNICATION POSTED DURING THE SOUTH AFRICAN WAR 245 A SIMILAR COMMUNICATION FROM "SOMEWHERE IN FRANCE" 245 A POST-CARD RECEIVED FROM A SOLDIER IN FRANCE BEARING STEREOTYPED GREETINGS 257 MONEY OF THE GREAT REBELLION, 1642-9 (1. Newark sixpence—2. Colchester gold half unite—3. Pontefract two-shilling piece—4. Ormond half-crown—5. Dublin crown of Charles II) 265 15 GUN MONEY OF JAMES II (1. Sixpence—2. Sixpence—3. Shilling—4. Shilling—5. Half-crown—6. Half-crown—7. Half- crown—8. Half-crown) 271 GUN MONEY OF JAMES II (9. Shilling—10. Shilling—11. Half-crown—12. Half-crown—13. Half-crown—14. Crown—15. Crown—16. Limerick farthing) 277 PAPER MONEY OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC, 1793 283 OBSIDIONAL HALF-FRANC NOTE OF EPERNAY 291 OBSIDIONAL FRANC NOTE OF EPERNAY 291 A NEWSPAPER POSTER WHICH TOLD OF WELCOME NEWS 297 A SET OF BONE DOMINOES CARVED BY PRISONERS TAKEN IN THE NAPOLEONIC WARS, AND INTERNED IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD OF PETERBOROUGH 297 AN INTERESTING BROADSIDE PRINTED AT THE FAMOUS CATNACH PRESS, BEING ONE OF A SERIES DESCRIBING INCIDENTS IN THE LIFE OF A SOLDIER 313 ILLUSTRATIONS IN THE TEXT ARMOUR HEADGEAR 75 WEAPONS 99 A MEDALLION STRUCK IN HONOUR OF JULIUS CÆSAR 186 MEDALLION COMMEMORATING THE VICTORY OF THE BATTLE OF THE BOYNE 187 MEDALLION COMMEMORATING THE FALL OF JAMES II 187 TWO MARLBOROUGH MEDALLIONS 188 MEDALLION COMMEMORATING THE BATTLE OF OUDENARDE 189 MEDALLION COMMEMORATING THE SURRENDER OF LILLE 189 MEDALLION COMMEMORATING THE BATTLE OF DUNBLANE 190 MEDALLION COMMEMORATING THE BATTLE OF DETTINGEN 190 MEDALLION COMMEMORATING THE BATTLE OF MINDEN 193 THE OLDEST ENGLISH BRASS 215 FACSIMILE OF A PORTION OF A LETTER WRITTEN BY CROMWELL TO LENTHALL, ANNOUNCING THE VICTORY OF NASEBY 225 AUTOGRAPH LETTER WRITTEN BY NAPOLEON III TO WILLIAM I OF GERMANY AFTER THE BATTLE OF SEDAN 231