Code: 56400
A poignant attributed WW1 British Infantry Officer’s Cuff Rank Tunic to a casualty, still bearing its rare "battle insignia" to the 2/8th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment). Worn by 2nd Lieutenant Harwood Albert Haddon who was killed at the Battle of Passchendaele on the 26th of September 1917.
It follows the standard early war design, tailored in khaki gabardine cloth with the classic false belt to the waistband and ginger cuff rank tape. What makes the Tunic exceptional however is the green diamond battle insignia of the 2/8th Sherwood Foresters still applied to each upper arm, and the field dressing pocket tailored to the inside front skirt. Both these features clearly indicate this was worn by 2/Lt. Haddon "in the field”.
Each cuff has a single pip and tape of a 2nd Lieutenant and there is a nice pair of bronzed Sherwood Foresters badges to each collar turn back and a full set of Sherwood Foresters buttons. There is a single inside pocket with a Market Harborough tailor’s label clearly showing the name of 2nd. Ltn H.A. Haddon.
Overall condition is very good with some minor mothing to the lower left pocket and flap and wear to the collar where it has rubbed against the button on the left shoulder strap.
The 2/8th Bn Sherwood Foresters were deployed to France on the 25th of February 1915. They were heavily engaged at the Battle of Passschendaele in the autumn of 1917 and disbanded in France on the 6th of February 1918 due to their high casualty rate.
The Tunic comes with some paperwork showing 2/Lt.Haddon to be buried at Tyne Cot Cemetary just outside Passschendaele
