Two aspects of soldiering – a touch of glamour and life at the deadly sharp end – were illustrated in two lots at a Tennants (18.5% buyer’s premium) antiques and militaria sale at Leyburn on August 9.
The two early 20th century dress uniforms and full accoutrements (right), belonging to Major George Owen Sandys, came from a private collection of material relating to his regiment, the Westmorland & Cumberland Yeomanry, and to the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment and the Duke of Lancashire’s Own 3rd Lancashire Militia.
With an abundance of silver lace, a silver pouch and chains marked for Birmingham 1913, silver-gilt spurs, silver bullion to the leather boots and white ostrich and red vulture feathers to a sable busby, the uniforms were the height of military glamour in the years before the First World War.