msdt Posted 5 November , 2015 Share Posted 5 November , 2015 I bought this bayonet not understanding the meaning of 'B & H', then found out the existence of the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment to which it must surely have belonged. It is marked to the second battalion. The serial number is double stamped. There are many listings of the post 1881 regimental abbreviations. We have discussed on this forum before that some of these changed between WW1 and WW2 but I have yet to see a list. B & H would be in this list. The bayonet pictured below is an Enfield specimen manufactured in April 1915 that then in all probability went on to serve in a further world war. It is nicely marked to show the typical marks that appear on a bayonet in service after WW1. It has re-issue (inspection) marks for 1928 and 1932; the scabbard is also a rebuild marked 1932. The regiment's history interestingly fits around these re-issue dates: With credit to Wikipedia:In 1919 the Bedfordshire Regiment was renamed The Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment, in recognition of the service of men from Hertfordshire during the First World War.The 2nd Battalion was stationed in India from 1919 to 1925 and in Iraq from 1925 to 1926. It returned to England, from where it was dispatched to suppress the Arab revolt in Palestine in 1936. From Palestine it moved back to England in 1938.In WW2 the 2nd Battalion formed part of the 10th Infantry Brigade, 4th Infantry Division. They were part of the British Expeditionary Force dispatched to France in September 1939, and evacuated from Dunkirk in 1940. They spent two years on home defence in the UK expecting a German invasion of England which never arrived. It took part later in the North African Campaign in 1941–42, the Tunisia Campaign in 1942–1943, the Italian Campaign in 1944 and the liberation of Greece in 1944–1945. The 2nd Battalion moved from Greece to Egypt in 1946, returning to the United Kingdom in 1947. So all in all a bayonet that could well have had a colourful history and one that I am happy I (eventually!) bought. Cheers, Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trajan Posted 6 November , 2015 Share Posted 6 November , 2015 A nice bayonet and a nice story to go with it! Interesting also that regimental stamping occurs after 1919 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shippingsteel Posted 6 November , 2015 Share Posted 6 November , 2015 They certainly were unit marked during the interwar years. Here's one of mine that I always regarded as an interwar marking. An August 1918 Vickers probably too late for the GW. Cheers, S>S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msdt Posted 6 November , 2015 Author Share Posted 6 November , 2015 Very nice S>S, and a Vickers too. Yes, when the abbreviations differ from the 1881 list I guess it's a definite for an inter-war marking, or like yours a late dated bayonet. I would like to find a copy of the inter-war armourers instructions if they exist, as that would help with this 'when was the marking applied' issue. Cheers, Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trajan Posted 6 November , 2015 Share Posted 6 November , 2015 Thanks SS! I was aware that interwar period regimentally-marked P.1907's did exist, and should have clarified my post by noting that MSDT's was another example to prove the rule that such marks did not exist for that period... That aside, looking at yours, I wonder if the 'R' in front of the 'serial' number indicates that this belonged to one of the KRR's (Training) Reserve Battalions? I gather that such did exist from late 1917 and into 1918, but could have mis-understood the source I read. TTFN, Trajan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
collectorsguide Posted 11 November , 2015 Share Posted 11 November , 2015 B and H does stand for Bedford and Herts regt and is stamped under 1932 Regulations (source Instructions to Armourers 1932) In WW1 Bedford Regt is abbreviated "BD" and Herts Regt "HTF" . I have a fair number of interwar marked PO7s. Query from me.I have been offered a P07 with a Canadian mark and the pommel stamped " R.T.G." ANY IDEAS ? Best wishes, Howard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeyH Posted 11 November , 2015 Share Posted 11 November , 2015 Re. interwar regimental markings on bayonets, I have a 1907 Pattern bayonet, made by Wilkinson and dated September 1918. This is regimentally marked RHLI, The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry. This Canadian Regiment was formed in March 1927, having previously being known as The Royal Hamilton Regiment, from May 1920. So marking still occuring in Canada as late as 1927. Mike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msdt Posted 11 November , 2015 Author Share Posted 11 November , 2015 Hi Howard, How about The Royal Regiment of Toronto Grenadiers? According to Wikipedia: 15 December 1936 the Royal Grenadiers was amalgamated with the Toronto Regiment and redesignated as The Royal Regiment of Toronto Grenadiers.Redesignated 11 February 1939 as the Royal Regiment of Canada. In which case we have a cast iron inter-war marking between 15 December 1936 and 11 February 1939 (ish!)!!! Cheers, Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
collectorsguide Posted 16 November , 2015 Share Posted 16 November , 2015 Thanks Tony,I had thought Toronto and Grenadiers but failed to confirm such a unit in my WW1 UNIT BOOKS. I also thought possibly Training and Garrison.as possibles..I am collecting the bayonet in 2 weeks time. Your interpretation sounds good to me. best w, Howard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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