syd Posted 27 August , 2018 Share Posted 27 August , 2018 One of my ancestors, Archie Roberts served in the 13th Hussars in the Great War. He took part in two of the greatest cavalry charges in Mesopotamia, at Lajj in 1917, and at Hadraniya, in October 1918. Archie survived the war and returned to his home village, Thorverton, near Exeter in Devon, where he worked as an agricultural labourer. Archie's grand-daughter has given me two pictures of stirrups which he may have used on cavalry horses in Mesopotamia. I wonder if anyone may be able to help identify the stirrups from the pictures here, and confirm that they were cavalry stirrups. The wording on the base of the stirrups appears to say: solid nickel, Canno (or Cann &) Frost E.O and Co. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chasemuseum Posted 28 August , 2018 Share Posted 28 August , 2018 He may well have used these, but they are not the standard military pattern. Cheers Ross Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
syd Posted 28 August , 2018 Author Share Posted 28 August , 2018 Thank you, Ross. I am grateful for your response. Archie worked with horses when he returned to Devon after the war, but I don't think he used these stirrups on the farm he worked in Thorverton. Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jrmh Posted 28 August , 2018 Share Posted 28 August , 2018 I think it reads: SOLID NICKEL CANNOT RUST Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Wrighton Posted 31 May , 2020 Share Posted 31 May , 2020 Posted 28 August , 2018 He may well have used these, but they are not the standard military pattern. Cheers Ross Old post but I dispute Ross’s statement: 4th Hussars spurs or stirrups with the same pattern as in your photograph: https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Antique-Steel-Hussar-Cradle-Pattern-Military-Stirrups-NOT-a-pair-cavalry-army/203001083047?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2648 Kind regards David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chasemuseum Posted 31 May , 2020 Share Posted 31 May , 2020 3 hours ago, David Wrighton said: Old post but I dispute Ross’s statement: 4th Hussars spurs or stirrups with the same pattern as in your photograph: look closely at the photos, the ebay photos are the "Hussar pattern" stirrup which was the general service pattern stirrup through to the mid 1890s and are correctly described by the vendor. The stirrups above are quite different. Cheers Ross Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Wrighton Posted 31 May , 2020 Share Posted 31 May , 2020 Fair enough Ross. I stand corrected. I was doing some internet research for the hussar stirrup and came across this blog. So, as I have recently purchased these stirrups, when would the 4th Hussars have used such a pattern....from when ? To the mid-1890s? Many thanks David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chasemuseum Posted 1 June , 2020 Share Posted 1 June , 2020 Hi David, At least from the 1850s through to the mid 90s. I have not been able to find the List of Changes entries when the pattern used in WW1 comes in. It is important to go back to the LoC entries as equipment was often introduced on a limited scale before ultimately becoming the universal pattern. Photos are also useful, I have photos of hussar pattern stirrups in use here in the late 90s, but Australian colonial units often retained old pattern equipment for local use for extended periods. I should add my congratulations on buying those stirrups. I saw them when they were for sale and was sorely tempted. I only have two saddles from the period and have hussar stirrups for each. They are hard to find and that pair were being offered at a very reasonable price. When I get my next iron arch saddle I will regret my decision not to buy them. Cheers Ross Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chasemuseum Posted 1 June , 2020 Share Posted 1 June , 2020 I should add, that before 1850 and the "list of changes" / sealed pattern procurement system, that procurement and patterns was so chaotic and colonels had so much discretion that it becomes impossible to make firm statements about patterns of equipment. If you look at "British Napoleonic Field Artillery" by CE Franklin, the chapter on draught harness illustrates stirrups as being of the "hussar" pattern. see illustrations on pages 104, 106, and 109. Although Franklin does provide extensive references for the chapter there is no specific discussion of stirrups. From this book and books like "Horse and Saddlery" Maj G Tylden, I consider that the hussar pattern was in use from the Napoleonic wars to the Crimean War but not exclusively. Tylden reproduces an 1860 illustration of a household cavalry officers "regimental" pattern of saddle with a different design of stirrup to the hussar type (page 159 fig 12). The "New Pattern" stirrup which continued through WW1 until the present appears to start with the UP1890 saddles, but I suspect may actually start a little earlier with some of the patterns of iron arch saddle but I cannot document this. As this type of article was retained in service "until used up" the period over which the hussar and new pattern were in service simultaneously was considerable. Were "hussar pattern" stirrups used during WW1 ? They possibly were, but I have never been able to locate a photo to confirm this. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Wrighton Posted 2 June , 2020 Share Posted 2 June , 2020 A detailed and professional reply. Many thanks Ross. I am the proud owner of these spurs: Your professional opinion on what cavalry regiment would use such spurs would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.David https://www.flyingtigerantiques.com/rare-pair-of-napoleonic-period-british-army-cavalry-officer-spurs.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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