Hi Bill,
Certainly many silver pieces in the UK didn't get hallmarked at the time of WW1 - smaller items like brooches, thimbles, hat pins and the like are all found with just silver stamped on them, and many from big manufacturers of the time like Charles Horner.
But as for Gaunt I don't know if their items would have been like this - I'm sure someone here will know for sure.
Gary
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