Black Watch QVC Officer's Shoulder Belt Plate

[mooke07]

Hi all a recent addition,

Black Watch Royal Highlanders Victorian Officer's shoulder belt plate. Photos from phone so not best quality sorry.

A four part example with wear and some damage. Seeded gilt back plate with silvered saltire, within a wreath of thistles, a circlet inscribed "Nemo Me Impune Lacessit" , to the centre St Andrew, surmounted by a Victorian crown with sphinx (cracked)below. Top scroll inscribed "The Royal Highlanders", bottom scroll inscribed "Black Watch"Two hooks and two studs to the reverse. Makers stamp R.& H.B. Kirkwood ,66 & 68 Thistle St., Edinburgh. Reverse retains original fixings comprising two hooks and two studs. Pins missing to rear.

Have family provenance of it having belonged to a Michael James Richmond and Richmond engraved to rear. Nice topic for research.

Regards Dean

[manchesters]

Dean,

I think R.& H.B. Kirkwood ,66 & 68 Thistle St., Edinburgh. were the retailers, not necessarily the maker.

regards

[grenadierguardsman]

WOW, very nice.

[mooke07]

Agree Simon Kirkwood was a retailer but most of their pieces are described as makers marked, cheers Dean.

[rmarsden]

Only one Richmond listed in BW officers.
George Mitchell; 2nd/Lt 1902; resigned 1904; rejoined 3rd (Special Reserve) Bn 1914 from Australia; wounded at Cuinchy Brickfields Jan 1915; Capt (3rd Bn) June 1915; wounded Dec 1915; Major Sept 1917; retired Aprl 1918; died at sea 1957!
Ron.

[mooke07]

Many thanks Ron,

Yes I did a quick Google search on the name and George Mitchell Richmond came. He was a pasturalist/grazier in NSW and quite a community figure. He sailed back to the UK to re-enlist with the BW. I think the shop owner took down the wrong Christian names perhaps. There were some pearl cuff links with the shoulder belt plate from his estate but nothing else. The dating would work as QVC pieces as we know worn post-1901 in many cases.

Thanks for checking, cheers Dean.

[davec2]

Hello Dean,

A very nice example !

I personally would not touch it as a repair, not unless you could get the overlay re-gilded ?? I think this is a case of ' living ' with it !!

Dave.

[mooke07]

Thanks Dave - like me it has an aged look about it and so will avoid plastic surgery ! Some things are best left as is.

Cheers Dean.

[rmarsden]

I quite agree, this is my example the gilt completely polished off leaving a pleasing copper colour.
Ron.

[mooke07]

I see, I see thanks Ron. Shall leave mine as is. The Officer in question for mine saw service in the Boer War and is credited as the first Australian to enlist in the British Army in WW1 from Australia. More on this as I unravel it. Cheers Dean