EDWARDIAN PERIOD OFFICERS HOME SERVICE HELMET THE WEST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
History Edwardian period
Second Boer War
1899 saw the 2nd Battalion sent to the Second Boer war in South Africa and after a number of engagements two members of the Battalion were awarded the Victoria Cross: Captain (later Colonel) Mansel-Jones in February 1900, and Sergeant Traynor in February 1901. The 4th (Militia) Battalion was embodied in December 1899, and 500 officers and men left for South Africa in February 1900. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd Volunteer Battalions sent service companies to the Boer War and were granted the battle honour South Africa 1900–02.
The 3rd (Militia) Battalion was embodied on 4 May 1900, and served 14 months at Malta before being stationed at Chatham during autumn 1901. The battalion disembodied on 1 October 1902.
Early 20th century
In 1908, the Volunteers and Militia were re-organised nationally, with the former becoming the Territorial Force and the latter the Special Reserve; the regiment now had two Reserve and four Territorial battalions:
- 1st (V) Bn became 5th Bn (TF), with RHQ at Colliergate in York.
- 2nd (V) Bn became 6th Battalion (TF), with RHQ at Belle Vue Barracks in Bradford (since demolished).
- 3rd (V) Bn became 7th and 8th (Leeds Rifles) Bns (TF), a double battalion with RHQ at Carlton barracks in Leeds.
First World War
Regular Army
The 1st Battalion landed at Saint-Nazaire as part of the 18th Brigade in the 6th Division in September 1914 for service on the Western Front. The 2nd Battalion landed at Le-Harve as part of the 23rd Brigade in the 8th Division in November 1914 also for service on the Western Front.
Territorial Force
The 1/5th, 1/6th, 1/7th and 1/8th Battalions landed at Boulogne-Sur-Mer as part of the West Riding Brigade in the West Riding Division in April 1915 also for service on the Western Front. The 2/5th, 2/6th, 2/7th and 2/8th Battalions landed at Le Havre as part of the 185th (2/1 West Riding) Brigade in the 62nd (2nd West Riding) Division in January 1917 also for service on the Western Front.
New Armies
The 9th (Service) Battalion landed at Suvla Bay in Gallipoli as part of the 32nd brigade in the 11th (Northern) Division in August 1915; the battalion was evacuated from Gallipoli in January 1916 and landed in Marseille in July 1916 for service on the Western Front. The 10th (Service) Battalion landed at Boulogne-sur-Mer as part of the 50th Brigade in the 17th (Northern) Division in July 1915 for service on the Western Front. The 11th (Service) Battalion landed at Le Havre as part of the 69th Brigade in the 23rd Division in August 1915 for service on the Western Front and then transferred to Italy in November 1917. The 12th (Service) Battalion landed at Le Havre as part of the 63rd Infantry Brigade in the 21st Division in September 1915 also for service on the Western Front.
The 15th (Service) Battalion (1st Leeds), raised by the Lord Mayor and City of Leeds, and the 16th (Service) Battalion (1st Bradford), raised by the Lord Mayor and City of Bradford, landed in Egypt as part of the 93rd Brigade in the 31st Division in December 1915 and then moved to France in March 1916 for service on the Western Front. The 17th (Service) Battalion (2nd Leeds), raised by the Lord Mayor and City of Leeds, landed at Le Havre as part of the 106th Brigade in the 35th Division in February 1916 for service on the Western Front. The 18th (Service) Battalion (2nd Bradford), raised by the Lord Mayor and City of Bradford, landed in Egypt as part of the 93rd Brigade in the 31st Division in December 1915 and then moved to France in March 1916 for service on the Western Front. The 21st (Service) Battalion (Wool Textile Pioneers) landed in France as Pioneer Battalion to the 4th Division in June 1916 also for service on the Western Front.
Item Description
British Officers Home Service Blue Cloth 1878 pattern helmet to the West Yorkshire regiment. This is an Edwardian example (1901onwards). There is a makers label to Herbert and Co London.
Exceptionally nice helmet plate and also comes in its original lacquered helmet tin.