Grenadier Guards brass plate

[Tigerlily]

Originally Posted by Tonomachi

Just found another one of these bed plates at the flea market. I wonder how these are ending up in the states.

Attachment 255672

Attachment 255675

Ooh that's nice, my cup of tea that is! I guess they move around the same as people do. The thing I like about scouting around antique shops is the subtle regional differences in some items for sale, for example if I go to Lincolnshire I can get more RAF items than closer to home, there's a few shops over near Derby where you can pick up some interesting mining relating things, Salisbury/ Wiltshire some fab militaria. I know it's obvious why, but I really like that. And then you pick up things like you have there, that seem quite left field and wonder how on earth it got there 🤔

[dumdum]

I know that I have one to a WW1 casualty. Will post a pic later and would be grateful if anyone can add any extra information.

Purchased with a lot of of military odds.

[dumdum]

Here it is (the system works, after a fashion...).

Dedicated "bedplate collectors" might be able to explain what has happened to this or if the odd shape and cut outs to the right are standard...

Could be that it has suffered from someone "wanting a piece of scrap brass".

Any details of the serviceman would be gratefully received. Is this an early number?

[leigh kitchen]

First Name:
William
Surname:
Shipp
Birth Town:
Haverhill, Suffolk
Resided Town:
Bury St. Edmunds
Nationality:
British
Date of Death:
11/10/1915
Fate:
Killed in Action
Rank:
Private
Service Number:
10950
Duty Location:
France And Flanders
Service:
British Army
Regiment:
Grenadier Guards
Battalion:
2nd Battalion

ST. MARY'S A.D.S. CEMETERY, HAISNES
IX. D. 10.
France

[dumdum]

Hi Leigh

Many thanks for that. You've added a lot more to the (very) little that I knew. Is he likely to be a pre-war regular, based on his number?

[leigh kitchen]

Looks like he was, this site puts his number 10950, around 1903-04.

https://armyservicenumbers.blogspot....uards.html?m=1

[dumdum]

Hi Leigh

Much appreciated! This has been languishing in a drawer for some time. It would be also good to know if this bedplate has been modified, as I suspect that it has.

The hole for mounting is there, but the slots cut to the RHS have me puzzled.

[leigh kitchen]

Sometimes "cast" items are deliberately damaged, eg clothing and headgear slashed, metal insignia whacked with a hammer, perhaps those nibbles in the bedplate were for that purpose.

[dumdum]

Thanks Leigh. Yes, I had heard of that practice and have been reading a book on transportation to Australia where the convict's clothing that they boarded the hulks in was stabbed through with a knife. Didn't stop the masters flogging it for coin later, however!

They then got issued a set of coarse woven garments.

Oh well, it's a sad relic of a life lost in the Great War.....

[grey_green_acorn]

Originally Posted by leigh kitchen

Sometimes "cast" items are deliberately damaged, eg clothing and headgear slashed, metal insignia whacked with a hammer, perhaps those nibbles in the bedplate were for that purpose.

Where does the British Army use of the term “cast” - meaning equipment removed from inventory come from?

Tim

[leigh kitchen]

Perhaps from the term "cast off" being used for discarded clothing as far back as the 1800's?

[grey_green_acorn]

I certainly recall in my time that old and beyond economic repair military vehicles were “cast” for disposal. I wondered if this was an old cavalry term for the disposal of horses. However, it seems that a “cast” horse is one that has laid down in a confined space and needs assistance to stand?

Tim

[dumdum]

I was once told that a late farming friend and his Dad attended a post-war dispersal sale.

They bought a vehicle of some sort for use on the farm. Before taking ownership, the person in charge of the distribution of the goods went around that vehicle and stamped major components with the cancellation mark (two "broad arrows" meeting) and even lightly branded the tyres!

At least they did slash the them.....

[Alex Rice]

I don't believe that the GG plate with the two notches cut out has been purposefully damaged to be 'cast'. Doing that to perhaps dozens or 100s of obsolete items would just take far too long. The notches are quite neatly cut so must be for a purpose. I would suggest that perhaps it was used almost like sign sticking out from the side of something where it would locate into 2 bolts (or similar) and could be clamped in place.
Cheers,
Alex

[leigh kitchen]

I'd agree that there seems little point in putting notches in a bed plate to indicate it's cast.
It's not like other items of clothing or equipment that a serviceman could aquire surplus to his issue and then exchange for new although it'd confirm that the plate is cast.
I have to admit it occurred to me that the bedplate may have the notches to facilitate use as a tin opener, to prise the lid off, but I don't think notches would be necessary for that.