Code: 58420
An excellent and historically important three panel pigskin Map Case once owned by Brigadier-General F.A.B. Fryer and given to him as a present at Christmas 1914 in time for him to have taken it with him as commanding officer of the South Wales Mounted Brigade at Gallipoli the following year.
Made by Sifton Praed & Co in London, the case has fittings for wear with the Sam Browne belt and a small compass built into the lower right panel. Beneath the central celluloid panel is inscribed “ F.A.B.F from E.C.H Xmas 1914” whilst on the inner leather fold cover is, “Brigadier General F.A.B Fryer, South Wales Mounted Brigade. Aylsham 1914”
Overall condition is very good with no damage whatsoever.
Frederick Arthur Bashford Fryer was a British Army cavalry officer. Born on 13 August 1871, he had a distinguished military career spanning several major conflicts before passing away on 23 September 1943. He was commissioned into the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons in October 1890 and rose through the ranks to become the regiment's Lieutenant-Colonel and Commanding Officer from 1908 to 1912.
During the Second Boer War he served in South Africa, where he acted as a Provost Marshal starting in October 1899 and earned multiple campaign clasps.
During the First World War he was promoted to temporary Brigadier-General and successfully held significant brigade-level commands. He commanded the South Wales Mounted Brigade during the Gallipoli campaign and the 22nd Mounted Brigade in Egypt during the Sinai and Palestine campaign. During the advance through the Sinai desert in early 1917, his men named a strategic observation outpost "Fryer's Hill" in his honour. (credit Wikipedia)
A fine example of the type which most probably saw service at Gallipoli.
