Original Item: One Only! This fine original early issue Blue Cloth Helmet with traditional “Ball” top mount and Helmet Plate of the Royal Artillery. Helmet is silk and leather lined and is complete with it’s original chained chin scales. Contained in Original steel Transit Case with Maker’s brass data shield of “Hawkes & Co., 14 Piccadilly, London.” with “Lt.Col. W.F.Cleeve, Royal Artillery” in script engraved on the brass owner’s name plate.
This item belonged to LT. COLONEL WILLIAM FREDERICK CLEEVE born on the British Island of Barbados in 1853. Commissioned into the ROYAL ARTILLERY in 1873. Saw action in the AFGHAN CAMPAIGN in the 1880s and again in SOUTH AFRICA in the Boer War of 1899-1901.
Appointed as CHIEF GUNNERY INSTRUCTOR 1901-1904 and then COMMANDANT of the ROYAL MILITARY ACADEMY at Woolwich until 1918. Died with the rank of MAJOR GENERAL in 1922 at Cheltenham in Gloucestershire England.
A fine High Ranking Victorian Artillery Officer’s Blue Cloth Helmet in original named Transit Case belonging to a much respected Combat Veteran of the Victorian Overseas Campaigns who became Commandant of the Royal Military Academy and died a Major General.