Andrew’s Mexborough Page
Text Box: 2x Tyneside Scottish Glengarry cap badge (2nd pattern 1915) complete with sandbag tartan Several massive explosions was the signal for this horrific and one of the most terrible days in British history, on this day 1,000’s of brave British and Allied soldiers would be slaughtered for very little gain. At just before 7.30am on the 1st of July 1916 the battle of the Somme began. The officers and men of the Tyneside Scottish went over the top singing and shouting lead by there pipers as they played ‘Tipperary’, the men walked at a steady pace into no mans land carrying full pack and a mountain of other provisions after been told and believing that the Germans and there front lines had been battered to a pulp by continuous allied bombardment and the massive explosion at near by Lochnagar. The Germans however and there defences where not as damaged as the Allies thought, and quickly the enemy came out of there deep well built chalk defences and virtually shot at will at the slowly advancing British battalions. The 1st and 4th battalions of the Tyneside Scottish took one of the worst number of causalities of any other regiment of that day and where virtually wiped out - including almost all officers. It is said that the German machine gunners aimed for the lower part of the body, making any advancing soldier drop to there knees and then as the Germans swung there guns around again the Tynesiders where peppered with bullets in the upper torso. On the left hand side are a couple of cap badges I have in my personal collection , these particular badges have the old ‘Sandbag tartan’ still attached to them. The tartan is old and lost lots of its colour - but still these are wonderful authentic rare items. The correct and authentic fastening for these badges should have the broach/gate type pin and not the loops/lugs that are sold in mass volumes these days as the real deal (Caveat emptor - buyer beware!). Click image to enlarge Text Box: Above is the front and back of a rare Tyneside Scottish postcard - it shows the image of the recruitment poster, this is the first of two posters that where issued - this one shows 17 Grainger Street. This was posted by ‘Tommy’ in 1915 from Alnwick (that’s where the Tyneside Scottish did there training in the grounds of the castle). The sad part is that it looks like Thomas Wallace died on that horrific first day of the battle of the Somme - 1st July 1916. The postcard had obviously been looked after for many years by someone before it came into my hands. Text Box: Tyneside Scottish cap badge (1st pattern 1914) This is the 1st pattern badge from my collection that was used on the navy blue Glengarry by the Tyneside Scottish. This example is a officers badge made from silver (other ranks had same badge but in white metal at this date). It has the famous Northumberland Fusilier motto ‘Quo Fata Vocant’ (Where ever the Fates call). Click image to enlarge Text Box: A Few Sweethearts broachs Examples of different sweethearts broaches given by the soldiers to there loved ones to remember them by from my collection. These two examples are small - the 1p coin gives a good idea of the size of the broaches Click image to enlarge A few pages dedicated to the Officers and men of the NorthEast - The ' Tyneside Scottish'
Text Box: TRENCH ART Here is an fine example of a bit of tinkering some Tyneside Scottish soldier did. It looks like at some point in time he come across this French made clock and commandeered it and added bits and bobs to it probably during some r&r time, possibly made to be taken home as a gift or maybe to be use in the trenches while he was in France. In this instance we see a rare 1st pattern TS Glengarry cap badge on top, and a couple of bullets to each side along with what also appears to be some kind of tiny military brass buttons on the side of the 303 rifle bullets. The clock is missing its hour hand - but remarkably the clock works fine and has a wonderful alarm with it too!. It’s amazing to think that such a wonderful delicate item has survived over these years (not forgetting it’s early life in the trenches!!) - even retaining its original bevelled glass front (as well as its haunting but wonderful tick), no doubt I bet this clock can tell a story or two!!!. Click clock image to enlarge Text Box: Here is a officers swagger stick that shows the 2nd pattern lion and rampart - (both feet on the tower as with the 2nd pattern cap badge 1915). The stick is pretty long at around 27inchs. This item appears to be made of silver but there is no hallmark visible, the end of the cane also has a silver tip (not shown). Click image to enlarge Text Box: Officers collar Badge Rare gilt officers collar badge Click image to enlarge Text Box: Alnwick Camp & TS postcards Click thumbnails to enlarge Text Box: Tyneside Scottish cap badge (4th pattern) This is the 4th pattern of the Tyneside Scottish cap badge that is from my collection. Again this badge was issued with broach/gate type fastening pin and NOT with lugs/loops. Click image to enlarge Text Box: Tyneside Scottish cap badge (3rd pattern) This is the 3rd patter cap badge I have in my collection used by the Tyneside Scottish - one of the more noticeable differences is that the lion stands on one foot. Click image to enlarge Text Box: Tyneside Scottish shoulder titles Brass shoulder titles with backing plate, unfortunately these have there numbers missing - the number of 1,2,3 or 4 would fit in the centre of the titles, I believe that the 1 (for the 1st TS) could have been made of white metal?, and the other 2,3 and 4 was made of brass. Click image to enlarge Text Box: Shoulder title Brass TS shoulder title as worn with the greatcoat. Click image to enlarge Text Box: Sweethearts Broachs A couple of excellent Tyneside Scottish sweetheart broaches - a little moth eaten, but still wonderful items. Click image to enlarge Text Box: Front & back of a dog tag that belonged 20/798 T. Hanratty of the 1st Tyneside Scottish and a casualty of the 1st of July 1916 (opening day of the battle of the Somme). Click image to enlarge Text Box: NEW TESTAMENT POCKET BIBLE A pocket sized bible that belonged to … Sergeant David Tweedie 29/1312 of the Tyneside Scottish reserve battalion who is listed as missing on the 28/29 March 1918. Click images to enlarge
Contrary to what you see on EBay, *AUTHENTIC* Tyneside Scottish badges etc.. are as rare as hens teeth and can not be purchased for a ’tenner’ .
TYNESIDE SCOTTISH PAGE 1TYNESIDE SCOTTISH PAGE 2Text Box: REUNION COMMEMORATIVE - 27th Sep. 1945 The framed item on the left was presented to Sancton Cecil Temperley who originated from Rowlands Gill and was a cobbler by trade. He joined the territorials in the early days of WW2. Sancton was captured at Dunkirk and survived Stalag V11B and the long march eventually dying of old age in Canada. The framed momento has the signatures of L.R. CROFT EDWARD ADAMS LIEUTENANT COLONEL SWINBURNE (part of whose signature I cannot decifer). As the signatures are in ink Edward Adams on the left is legible but faint. The 3rd pattern Tyneside Scottish badge is in absolute mint condition having been securely frames since September 1945! With black watch tartan. Click image to enlarge Text Box: TO THE MEN OF THE TYNESIDE SCOTTISH BRIGADE A scroll that was presented to the men of the Tyneside Scottish in December 1915 prior to there departure to France in January 1916. This was presented to SGT. 20/212 R. M . Armstrong. Click image to enlarge
Text Box: Tyneside Scottish cap badge - 1st pattern (other ranks) with CORRECT lug position On the left we have a image of a badge from my collection showing a authentic TS 1st pattern Glengarry badge. These where made in white metal (never brass no matter what some EBay seller tells you!). The lugs on the rear show the CORRECT positioning as they should appear. The badge detail on the front is very prominent . If you view the badge on it’s side horizontally - the impression should look convexed like a glass lense and not ‘flat’ as they do on modern day repos of this item. If you look at the example badge on the left showing the rear, you can just make out that the badge does not rest flat CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE Text Box: Tyneside Scottish Glengarry Here we have a rare example of a TS item. Difficult to see on the scan, but here is a wool dark navy blue Glengarry, with correct red torrie and black double tassle at the rear. This also has the correct broached 2nd pattern bonnet badge for this Glengarry. Very fragile and a bit whiffy these days, but still an ultra scarce item that im very pround to have in my collection. Click image to enlarge Text Box: Tug Of War A badge that was worn on the vests of the TS ‘tug of war’ team. Click image to enlarge Text Box: Tribute Scroll A tribute scroll awarded to Pte. M. Allan, 23/368, 4th Battalion . Missing 30/06/1916 Click to enlarge Text Box: Trench Art A cigarette case in brass with a 3rd pattern Glengarry cap badge brazed on the lid Click to enlarge