TOPIC:

I have stumbled across a bugle stamped on the bell with; Boer War Colonial Forces 1899-1901. It also has a brass badge soldered onto it which belonged to the Australasian C Squadron of the 4th County of London (King's Colonials) Imperial Yeomanry.
I was wondering if there might be any further information about this Australasian squadron and whether this bugle might be authentic.
Many thanks

Your image.



The 4th County of London (Kings Colonials)
The Regiment originally consisted of four (4) Squadrons:-

A. Squadron - British Asians, (mostly Indian) whose Squadron badge depicted a large Elephant. 

B. Squadron - British Americans (actually Canadians) whose Squadron badge showed a beaver chewing a branch set against a maple leaf.

C. Squadron - Australasian, (Australian & New Zealanders) whose Squadron badge was a kangaroo and tree fern set against a rising sun.

D. Squadron - British African, (South African & Rhodesian) who wore as a Squadron badge, an Ostrich set against a rising sun.

Thank you for your responses.
I agree Dave and have suspected the same that the badge may have covered any makers markings or the upward arrow marking it a British bugle.
There are no other markings on the bugle. I am not expecting it to have seen any action but a makers mark would have been helpful.

My feeling is that the inscription is not up to the standard one would expect for such a bugle. The few genuine examples I have seen are beautifully hand-engraved with considerably more information than simply “Boer War 1899-1901”. The rather clumsy impressed lettering makes me question the age of the inscription.

But I may be completely wrong….

As already mentioned, the badge may well be hiding a date of manufacture.

Neville




The above example is inscribed:

PRESENTED / BY THE MAKERS / April 12th 1901 / TO / Captain L. Hignett, / (1ST V.B.K.L.R.) / COMMANDING “THE VOLUNTEER / SPECIAL SERVICE COMPANY”, / FOR USE ON ACTIVE SERVICE / IN SOUTH AFRICA, / 1901 / MAY GOD PROTECT HIM AND HIS COMMAND.

…

Thanks Neville

I agree.

I am a current serving military trumpeter and have also seen some beautifully inscribed instruments.

But I have also seen some plain inscriptions like this one on trumpets and bugles making it difficult to come to any firm conclusions.

Th inscription does also include 'Colonial Forces' and the inscription seems to be genuinely worn.

The bugle also at one point in the past was very clearly roped. Sometimes the ropes can tell us a lot about the instrument so it is also frustrating that the rope is no more.

The bugle also appears to be quite solidly built, with dense copper componentry, side seamed bell etc. and plays quite well telling me it is/was not a cheap replica.

I would not be surprised if the badge is genuine and someone who perhaps was originally in the squadron may have decided to create the bugle as a piece of family memorabilia.

I'm not sure iif un-soldering the badge to see if there are any other markings is a good idea or not...

Thanks for your thoughts

Jason

A couple of observations re: whether this might be a reproduction:
- the 4th (County of London) King's Colonials was formed in Nov 1901, which doesn't fit with the 1899-1901 dates on the bugle.
- the badge on the bugle is rare, but is apparently quite commonly faked. Without un-soldering it, you might be able to get an opinion on its originality from this forum: www.britishbadgeforum.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=56
Rob