For Grumpy, thanks for help with Fitzroy

[dutchbarge]

Hello Grumpy,

Thanks for help with sorting me out on C.A.E.Fitzroy, 2/RWF. I'd had his osd tunic for about 15 years but until I joined the Forum and could put out word asking for help about his background I was at sea as to who he was. Since your posting about Fitzroy and the leads it supplied I've gone on to uncover a wealth of information about his background (10th Duke of Grafton), education, service, etc. I thought perhaps you, and the Forum members would like a look at his uniform. This was a tunic worn while he was Aide-de-Camp to the Governor General of the Union of South Africa circa 1916. Thanks and cheers, Bill

[SiegeGunner]

Lovely uniform, Bill, but unfortunate timing – http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/i...=100172&hl=

[FROGSMILE]

Hello Grumpy,

Thanks for help with sorting me out on C.A.E.Fitzroy, 2/RWF. I'd had his osd tunic for about 15 years but until I joined the Forum and could put out word asking for help about his background I was at sea as to who he was. Since your posting about Fitzroy and the leads it supplied I've gone on to uncover a wealth of information about his background (10th Duke of Grafton), education, service, etc. I thought perhaps you, and the Forum members would like a look at his uniform. This was a tunic worn while he was Aide-de-Camp to the Governor General of the Union of South Africa circa 1916. Thanks and cheers, Bill

Super photo Bill, especially as I have had long and direct association with RWF spanning 2 generations (they sadly merged with another regiment last year after over 300 years in independent existence). What do you do with these reconstructions? Do you have a small personal museum in sunny New Mexico?

[Steven Broomfield]

Slightly nothing to do with it, but I recall, when a lad living in Cambridge, my sister-in-law's mum lived in Grafton Street, which was an adjacent street to Fitzroy Street.

Did they have a Cambridge connection?

[dutchbarge]

Super photo Bill, especially as I have had long and direct association with RWF spanning 2 generations (they sadly merged with another regiment last year after over 300 years in independent existence). What do you do with these reconstructions? Do you have a small personal museum in sunny New Mexico?

I have always been fascinated (read obsessed) with WW1. I began collecting over 40 years ago. Back when really nice pickelhauben sold for $50-60, a super cammo stahlhelm for $10-15 (you couldn't give away US, French or Commonwealth stuff). Of course that was big money back then! I've gotten my collection down to a few uniform ensembles of identified individuals. I've no plans of adding to my collection. Not that I could afford to anyway. I am very content to study the personalities connected to the uniforms I have. Before the internet and especially the Forum, it was nigh on impossible living in the US to find out anything about the personalities, service and background of these fellows. Decades ago you'd write to local newspapers or Regimental Associations and if you were lucky you'd get a few leads. The time we lived in London I tried the Imperial War Museum and Kew. But I just didn't have the background to suss out what I was looking for. And working on the Commonwealth uniforms was a piece of cake compared to the German and French ones! Now, with the National Archives online, London Gazette online and especially the HUGE body of knowledge shared by Forum members I find that keeping up with the information pouring in about my chaps is almost a full time job. Sorry, I don't have a museum. Most of the stuff is packed up in moth-proof containers. I keep one ensemble out at a time, periodically changing it. Troyte-Bullock's was out these past months, thus so many questions to the Forum. I really do feel obliged to take good care of everything and document as much about the original owners as possible. Eventually I plan to have it all go to Museums where it can inspire and engage a much wider audience. Until then, you'll find me asking lots of questions on the Forum! Cheers, BIll

[FROGSMILE]

I have always been fascinated (read obsessed) with WW1. I began collecting over 40 years ago. Back when really nice pickelhauben sold for $50-60, a super cammo stahlhelm for $10-15 (you couldn't give away US, French or Commonwealth stuff). Of course that was big money back then! I've gotten my collection down to a few uniform ensembles of identified individuals. I've no plans of adding to my collection. Not that I could afford to anyway. I am very content to study the personalities connected to the uniforms I have. Before the internet and especially the Forum, it was nigh on impossible living in the US to find out anything about the personalities, service and background of these fellows. Decades ago you'd write to local newspapers or Regimental Associations and if you were lucky you'd get a few leads. The time we lived in London I tried the Imperial War Museum and Kew. But I just didn't have the background to suss out what I was looking for. And working on the Commonwealth uniforms was a piece of cake compared to the German and French ones! Now, with the National Archives online, London Gazette online and especially the HUGE body of knowledge shared by Forum members I find that keeping up with the information pouring in about my chaps is almost a full time job. Sorry, I don't have a museum. Most of the stuff is packed up in moth-proof containers. I keep one ensemble out at a time, periodically changing it. Troyte-Bullock's was out these past months, thus so many questions to the Forum. I really do feel obliged to take good care of everything and document as much about the original owners as possible. Eventually I plan to have it all go to Museums where it can inspire and engage a much wider audience. Until then, you'll find me asking lots of questions on the Forum! Cheers, BIll

Thank you Bill for your comprehensive and very illuminating reply. I wish you well with your collection and the research that it inspires. There is a museum out there somewhere that does not know how lucky it is going be one day.