Original British WWI Royal Fusiliers Bearskin Busby by J Compton & Sons in size 7 1/8 with Bag – dated 1912 Original Items

Original Item: Only One available. One of Great Britain’s oldest regiments, the Royal Fusiliers were raised in 1685 as the “Ordnance Regiment”, to combat the the bastard son of King Charles the Second, the Duke of Monmouth who was later beheaded after the Battle of Sedgemoor. The regiment was redesignated as the 7th Regiment of Foot (Royal Fusiliers) in 1751, and served throughout the Wars of the Spanish Succession and by 1773 was posted to Canada. They participated in the Battle of Quebec in 1775 and were in New York City by 1776. The fought at the Battle of Monmouth in 1778 and later joined Cornwallis Charlotte North Carolina in 1780. They served at the Battle of Guildford Courthouse in 1781 and surrendered along with Cornwallis in 1781, returning to England in 1783.

The regiment then fought in the Napoleonic Wars in the Peninsular Campaign, the Crimean War, and the second Afghan War of 1878-1880, after which they were renamed the The Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment). Under this name they took part in the 2nd Boer War, WWI, the Russian Civil war, and WWII.

We offer here a splendid condition Regimental Bearskin Busby Helmet, dated 1912, complete with its original carry bag! It has a white horse hair hackle to the right side, for the Royal Fusiliers Regiment. The helmet comes complete with excellent leather liner and brass interlocking ring chin scales all in excellent order. There happens to be a name tag hanging to the interior marked “MACLACHLAN # 6” which might help in research.

The inside still bears the original pink rectangular manufacturers label:

J COMPTON & SONS
7 1/8
1912.

Below this is the official War Department (W “Broad Arrow” D) marking, over another 1912 date. Definitely a well marked helmet. The included carry bag is a bit worse for wear, but after 100 years, its condition can be excused, as we almost NEVER see these with the helmets, as they were usually discarded.

In truly splendid condition, original and ready to display!