Original Item: Only One Available. This is a World War One British officer’s bamboo cane with curved top as often seen in Great War photographs being carried by senior staff. It measures 39″ overall and is fitted with a brass bottom tip. Around the upper portion there is a Sterling Silver Hallmarked band inscribed:
FROM COLONEL E. P. SEROCOLD
TO LIEUT. A. WEBB
JULY 1917
Above the hallmarks is the cane’s maker’s name:
BRIGG
LONDON
Made by the famous walking stick, cane, and whip manufacturer: Thomas Brigg & Sons.
Lieutenant-Colonel Eric Pearce-Serocold born in 1876 was Commanding Officer of 2nd Battalion King’s Royal Rifle Corps from 04/08/1914 to 31/10/1914 and was wounded. He later returned to action as CO of 123 Bde 1917-18 and finished out the war rising in rank to Brigadier General. He died in 1926.
There is a second silver plate mounted on the curve of the cane with a hole in the middle intending for the storage of some other item which is now absent. This slim hole extends 14 1/2″ down inside the cane and we can only guess what was stored in there but possibly a stiletto blade of some sort.
This is an original item that could really benefit from some research, two named British Officers from 1917 in the Great War we can all wonder about the story this cane could tell.