Code: 56808
A very rare, attributed WW1 British Officer’s Uniform to the legendary 3rd Tyneside Scottish “Pals” Battalion of Battle of the Somme fame.
Officially designated as the 22nd (Service) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, the 3rd Tyneside Scottish were one of four such “Pals" Battalions from Newcastle-on-Tyne raised in 1914 in answer to Lord Kitchener’s call for war volunteers; together they formed the 102nd (Tyneside Scottish) Brigade of the 34th Division.
Famously and tragically “Pals" Battalions were specially constituted battalions of the British Army comprising groups of men who had specifically enlisted together in local recruitment drives with the promise of being able to serve alongside their friends, thus remaining as such all the way to deadly battle. This as opposed to being split up and arbitrary allocated to different battalions as was usually the case. Under this premise, on Tyneside, reports of groups of friends marching ten miles into the city to enlist were common.
On the 1st of July 1916, the first fateful day of the Battle of the Somme, the Tyneside Scottish Brigade suffered the greatest losses of any brigade deployed. The brigade's losses were so severe that on the 6th July it was withdrawn and transferred to the 37th Division. The 3rd Battalion Tyneside Scottish themselves (attacking south of La Boisselle) incredibly losing 21 officers and 638 other ranks on that first day alone, this more than half the Battalion.
This uniform is attributed to 2nd Lieutenant George Purdy who went to France with the 3rd Tyneside in January 1916. It is thought on the 1st of July 1916 2/Lt.Purdy led the battalion’s 7th Platoon into battle and survived the day, though perhaps being wounded.
The Uniform consists of 2nd/Lt.Purdy’s Glengarry Cap, Doublet Tunic, and Breeches.
The Glengarry Cap is the rare all dark blue cloth “simplified” pattern sanctioned in December 1914. These were first introduced with the idea that they would replace all the different regimental versions in order to simplify supply and manufacture. This proved most unpopular with regular Scottish units however and very soon after the all blue Glengarry was mostly relegated to war raised units such as the Tyneside Scottish.
Being affiliated to the Black Watch upon their formation the Tyneside Scottish were actually prescribed that regiment’s dark blue Glengarry with red tourie (pom pom); this meaning today when surviving Tyneside Scottish examples are encountered they can be found with either a red tourie, or a dark blue one such as here.
The Glengarry is very nicely maker marked and dated 1915. The banding to the edge is cloth instead of leather, this being a standard feature on the simplified pattern. The silk tails to the rear have been period removed, this a very common modification in WW1 as the tails were found to be a hindrance in the field.
On the front the usual black silk bow has also been replaced by a square of Black Watch tartan, this being an officially prescribed regimental distinction awarded to surviving veterans of the 1st of July battle.
Pinned through the tartan patch there is then a beautiful solid silver officer’s badge of the Tyneside Scottish, this bearing silver hallmarks for 1915. The badge design is the 2nd type, this first introduced in early 1915.
The Doublet Tunic is a nice early cuff rank version with single pip for a 2nd Lieutenant.
To each lapel there is the rare collar badge of the Tyneside Scottish, with the Tunic then having the buttons of the parent regiment the Northumberland Fusiliers applied throughout, as is correct.
To the lower right sleeve there is a single blue chevron denoting one year’s active service overseas. To the lower left sleeve there is then a single bullion wound stripe denoting one wound. Given 2nd/Lt.Purdy went to France in 1916 but shows only one year’s overseas service by 1918, it is perhaps the case that his wound was so severe he spent one year in England convalescing.
The tunic lining has a handwritten inscription with 2nd/Lt.Purdy's details. I do not believe this was done by Purdy himself however, it having all the appearance of being subsequently applied by a family member perhaps later and from memory since the details are incorrect.
The Breeches to this uniform are also interesting. These bear the A/1918 date mark of a government issue item, this supporting the hypothesis of 2nd/Lt.Purdy spending one year convalescing before returning to active duty in 1918.
Overall condition is very good. There are three very minor moth holes in the tunic and some surface nips in places on the breeches, none of which are really noticeable. There is some fading to the body of the Glengarry.
My final two images show 2nd/Lt Purdy’s medal index card, and a period photograph of men of the Tyneside Scottish in their dark blue Glengarry Caps prior to departing for France. Both the standard and simplified version are shown.
A rare and evocative uniform.
