BEDFORDSHIRE REGIMENT OFFICERS UNIFORM.

Tunic, trousers, boots and helmet from an unidentified Captain in the Bedfordshire Regiment. The Bedfordshire Regiment, the 16th Regiment of Foot, first formed in the last year of the reign of King James II in the summer of 1688, one of the senior regiments of the British Army. This 1880’s pattern Red officers tunic in absolutely magnificent condition with the Bedfordshire Regiment officers collar badges to each collar, Captains pips to each shoulder board. The tunic is totally free of any moth. The gold lace is mint bright. All of the regimental buttons are present. The quality of tailoring is superb, the interior silk multi stitched lining is good, there is some slight shredding in the armpit areas. The tunic has the label for ‘F.W.Flight Military Outfitters, Winchester, Aldershot and London’, some minor shredding to the silk lining around the label. Accompanying the tunic is a very unusual wooden hanger, which we have never seen before, it would appear to be an official style of hanger for the high collar tunic, it is stamped with a crown and another unidentified maker’s mark with the number ‘52’ but would appear to be designed specifically for this style of tunic. Accompanying the tunic is the 1881 pattern Home Service blue cloth helmet, these were the standard full dress helmet for the British Army from 1880 to 1914. No moth to any of the blue cloth, gilt slightly subdued, King’s crown dating the helmet from 1902 to 1910. The front plate has the blue enamel centre of the Bedfordshire Regiment, very few of the British line regiments had enamel centres. Complete with its full length chin chain and interior Morocco leather sweatband, the inner silk has shredded and disappeared. Fully maker marked to ‘D.Jones, Late Milton & Jones Military Outfitters, Deansgate, Manchester with the original size label of ‘7’ to the interior. Accompanying the helmet are a pair of British officers boots with full length blue trousers with red stripe. The helmet is with its carrying tin, which has been repainted.

Code: 81493