Soft cap,Derby Scheme armband and puttees.Comments appreciated.

[kaisersoffensive]

Hello

I have attached a number of images of several WW1uniform items that I purchased from a local auction sale recently.

They are a soft service hat with cap badge to the Hertfordshire Regiment, a Derby Scheme arm band and a pair of puttees.

They belonged to LCpl George W Mason.

As I mainly collect medals I confess ignorance about such items.

I would welcome any comments from forum members.

Possibly his service papers exist?

Many thanks for any help.

Cheers,

Bob Norman

[Graham Stewart]

It's not a Derby Scheme armband it's the later Volunteer Force armband, complete with number "V/193086", which replaced the armband formerley worn by the VTC. A Derby Scheme armband only has the Crown upon it in scarlet.

[wainfleet]

Bob

The peak stitching on the cap is slightly odd, being all down at the front and none at the top, but the cap is clearly genuine and of late wartime vintage, having the pattern of lining approved in May 1918. I can (just) see enough of the puttees to tell that they, too, are wartime issue. Graham has said it all re the armband.

If the army uniform items and the armband belonged to the same man, one can only presume that at some point he fell into the call-up age bracket, which was extended, I think eventually to 50, as the war progressed.

A nice little group, which should ideally be kept together with his medals if you have them. If he was called up in 1918, his service papers have as good a chance of existing as any.

Rgds, W.

[kaisersoffensive]

Hello Graham & W

Many thanks to both you gentlemen for the information supplied.

I have his MIC print out but sadly not his medals.

The query that I have is that he was entitled to 14 star with clasp being in France 6-11-1914.

Cheers

Bob Norman

[Graham Stewart]

Attached is a photo of a member of the Derby Scheme, in evening attire, wearing the khaki armband with red crown.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Bob,

Here are three armbands/armlets issued to the VTC - first pattern in November 1914 ( top ) and second pattern in January 1917 ( middle )

The Derby Scheme armand was issued on 30th October ,1915. ( bottom )

Regards,

LF

Photos from J. Bodsworth's - British WW1 Uniforms

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Derby Scheme Recruitment Posters.

LF

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Army Form W.3208 - Instructions regarding the wearing of the Khaki Armlet ( Derby Scheme )

J. Bodsworth's - WW1 British Uniforms.

LF.

[David B]

I've had a look for his service papers without any luck. Trouble is there are many Geoerge W Masons and without any service number can't tell if the right one is there. None to the

Hertfordshire Regt though.

[kaisersoffensive]

Hello David & Lancashire Fusilier,

Many thanks to you both for your effort and courtesy in replying.

His Reg No is 3102 and renumbered to 265832.

Cheers,

Bob Norman

[Graham Stewart]

Bob,

Here are three armbands/armlets issued to the VTC - first pattern in November 1914 ( top ) and second pattern in January 1917 ( middle )

The Derby Scheme armand was issued on 30th October ,1917. ( bottom )

Regards,

LF

Photos from J. Bodsworth's - British WW1 Uniforms

Second pattern armband is for the Volunteer Force - not the V.T.C.. The Derby Scheme armband was issued in 1915, not 1917.

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Second pattern armband is for the Volunteer Force - not the V.T.C.. The Derby Scheme armband was issued in 1915, not 1917.

Graham.

Thanks for the corrections, the Derby date was a mis-type, meant to be 1915.

Regards,

LF

[dannyhill86]

His MIC shows his as being promoted to Corporal. He was entitled to the 1914 trio with clasp and arrived in France when the bn arrived as a whole on 6th November 1914. a goodle search for Bedford Regiment in the Great War will bring up Steve Fuller's great website with the entire Herts war diary.

dan

[kaisersoffensive]

Hello Dan,

Very many thanks for this information.

The query that I am now having is why he should be issued with this later arm band if he was in France by Nov 1914?

Cheers,

Bob Norman

[RobL]

Here's another armband!