Sabretache & Crossbelt
Pre 1844 Post 1844
Dress
 
Field
 

An early 20thC Officers' cartridge pouch to the Leicestershire Yeomanry Cavalry, the black leather body lined in green leather with silver front flap bearing the maker's name 'Joseph Jennens & Co.,' hallmarked Birmingham 1910 and decorated with King's crown, LYC and Prince Albert's Own titles in gilt.

Above: LIY Officers Crossbelt, post 1902 (Silver fittings made in Birmingham).


Above: PAOLYC Officers Crossbelt, Hallmarked Birmingham 1875.


Above: PAOLYC Officers Crossbelt, Hallmarked London 1850. This cross belt was last owned by Colonel F G Blair CB and is now owned by the Squadron Leader of B (LDYPAO) Squadron, The Royal Yeomanry.


Leicestershire Yeomanry Cavalry Victorian Officer's pouch. An extremely fine red Morocco lined pouch, the scarlet cloth face edged with silver lace; the centre embroidered with gold Crown and silver wire 'LYC' cipher resting on a padded tri-part scroll inscribed 'Prince Albert's Own'; foliated ends supporting plain belt loops; complete with red Morocco foul weather cover. Very fresh VGC . . together with associated two inch red Morocco backed silver lace pouch belt with silver buckle, tip and slide by J & Co with Birmingham hallmarks for 1879. Silver boss, chains, arrow pickers and hexagonal keeper; the boss and keeper bearing Birmingham hallmarks for 1881.

The original purpose of the silver "Prickers" was a functional and vital one. Only Light Cavalry regiments have them and they were used to disable the enemy guns once the enemy position was over run. Cavalry Officers wore them because they had to decide if it was tactically necessary to disable the guns they had captured. If it was, then a pricker would be jammed into the fuse hole of the cannon, hammered in, and then the top would be broken off the pricker. Therefore rendering the gun inoperable for the duration of the battle and until the "plug" could be taken out. A handsome but necessary part of uniform for the officer during the 1800's.

The pricker plate is still worn by Cavalry Officers today as a visible sign of rank and as a reminder of its role in Cavalry history.

The belt is made from red morocco leather (2 1/4 inches wide) and sewn onto to it is silver "Denmark Lace" (regimental pattern). The Leicestershire Yeomanry were initially Light Dragoons and therefore wore Light Dragoon pattern silver buckle, slider and end plate (as seen below). The Light Dragoon pattern buckle, slider and end cap would have acid etched designs in them for the officers. On becoming Hussars in 1873, the crossbelt ornaments changed to the Hussar pattern (as seen above).

In an auction dated: 26th October 2002 (The items were not sold)
Four officers' full dress silver-mounted leather pouches (described vertically): marks for Birmingham, 1887, maker Joseph Jennens & Company, gilt metal "VR" cypher surmounted by Victorian crown, (leather worn, light scratches); marks for Birmingham, 1913, Jennens & Company, cypher for George V surmounted by crown, light cavalry, (dents, light scratches); marks for Birmingham, 1870, Jennens & Company, cypher LH (replaced), (wear to leather, dents, repairs), Leicestershire Yeomanry Cavalry, accompanying note attributes ownership to Prince Albert; red leather, marks for Birmingham, 1891, maker B&P, "VR" cypher for reigning monarch, light cavalry, (repairs to corners, tape residue on leather), all mounted in contemporary shadowbox frame, all approximately 3 x 7-1/4 in. Auction Location:
United States of America

Re above : Of course, it could be that they have confused "Prince Albert's Own" as being attributed to his ownership of the item.




Col Legh-Keck's accoutrements.
**The cross belt has the buckles and slider of Dragoon's and, curiously, has the silver lace used by Army Medical Staff/Corps and not the "Denmark Lace" as seen on the Sabretache. 


Some detail of the crossbelt and sterling silver fittings, note the "Hussar" pattern buckle, slider and end fittings.


Another example of the sterling silver pouch.

Leicestershire Yeomanry Cavalry 1885 Officer's silver pouch. A good scarce example by J & Co Jennens, the silver flap and belt loops bearing Birmingham hallmarks for 1885. Black leather pouch with silver embroidered edging around the top; solid silver flap with engraved floral decoration around the edges, the centre mounted with gilt Crowned "LYC" cypher resting on a tri-part scroll inscribed "Prince Albert's Own". Complete with foliated ends and plain silver belt loops.



 Dress Cartouche badge (post 1844)


undress Cartouche badge (post 1844)

Example of an LYC Hussar cross belt Pricker plate & fixings.
Example of an LYC Hussar cross belt end cap.


Silver plated Sabretache and Sword strap buckles (later type)


 Sliver Sabretache and Sword strap buckles (earlier type)

Undress Sword Belt

Post 1844
The Cross belt pouch has been put on top of the sword belt, the Cross belt was plain black leather with the pouch attached. All ranks wore the black cross belts in undress.


Pre 1844
The above belonged to Sir Arthur Hazlerigg 12th Baronet and was a Cornet in the LYC 1832 - 1844. This item was from a Knowesley Hall sale. A black leather face edged with flat narrow silver lace in the Vandyke pattern. The same lace is used to form the large simple script initials 'LYC'. Above the letters a large gilt metal St. Edward's crown. The sabretache inner flap with ink inscription, "Sir A.G.Hazlerigg, Bart". Together with the relevant black and silver plated waist belt sword and sabretache slings.