Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

South Wales Borderers, a very fine and scarce officer’s 1880 pattern forage cap, the body of stiffened format with blue cloth cover, the lower area with broad black oak-leaf braided lace, the crown with regulation pattern corded boss and eight loop lace circle, the patent leather drooping peak with inlaid gold bullion lace, the badge, original to the hat, of crowned laurel sprays in gilt metal with central Dragon in silver upon a raised ground of black velvet; internally in near mint state with the gold blocked trade badge of Messrs Hawkes & Co 14 Piccadilly London. Provision for the narrow leather chin strap (missing); named inside the sweat band on the stiffened wall of the hat ‘Pulleine’, marked on the opposite side ‘71/4’, both inscriptions almost certainly made at the time of the hat’s assembly, three moth nips to the rim and a very small hole to the crown, all at the rear area otherwise quite excellent condition £400-500

Henry Percy Pulleine (the son of Brevet Lieut-Colonel H. B. Pulleine, killed in command of the 1st/24th (2nd Warwickshire) Regiment at Isandhlwana, 22nd January 1879) was commissioned 2/Lt (from the South Staffordshire Regiment) 21.3.1888. Lieut 10.2.1891, resigned 11.11.1896.