Orders, Decorations and Medals

Captain J. S. Hobbs, The Gloucestershire Regiment

A Sterling silver inkwell set, in two elements: a rebated ovoid base, 10.0" x 5.5", approx. 7 ounces, surmounted by a moulded glass (crystal?) inkwell fitted with a hinged lid gilded internally and finely engraved with the regimental device, ‘4th Battn Gloster Regiment’. Maker's mark for J Dudley, Southsea (encountered rarely), hall marks for London 1899. The base engraved, ‘Presented to the Officers, 4th Battn Gloucester Regt by Captain & Adjt J S Hobbs, May 1900’ £100-120

This item relates to the story of General Cronje and his men held captive on St Helena. At the outbreak of war in 1899, Colonel the Earl Bathurst offered his Royal North Gloucesters to the War Office for service in South Africa, "or anywhere". They were sent to St Helena.

It is the vendor's opinion that the officers, believing the deployment would be of short duration, left their Mess silver in Cheltenham when they embarked for the South Atlantic. In the event, they performed guard and garrison duties on St Helena for the next 18 months. This necessitated the purchase of items for a temporary Mess on the island. Agents in Jamestown had a long tradition of supplying silverware to the local gentry and to the officers of passing ships.

A Regular officer, Major Joseph Scovell Hobbs retired c.1913 after extensive service in India but was then recalled and promoted to command his regiment's newly-forming 8th (Service) Battalion. He took it to France in July 1915 but then relinquished command after five months at the front; sold with extensive paperwork including reproduction of a private letter in which Captain Hobbs describes the 4th Gloucester's early experiences on St Helena.