The Waistbelt and Mess Waistcoat of Captain Laurence Oates, 6th Inniskilling Dragoons

Details

The Waistbelt and Mess Waistcoat of Captain Laurence Oates, 6th Inniskilling Dragoons

An officer's gold-laced red leather waistbelt with rectangular frosted gilt-brass clasp mounted with the Castle of Inniskilling above VI and scrolls inscribed INNISKILLING DRAGOONS, the reverse side of the clasp inscribed Oates in pencil; and an Old Style scarlet waistcoat edged with gilt studs and gold 'Vandyke' lace flanked by eyes and scrolls of gold Russia braid, the pocket-openings also ornamented with gold Russia braid forming crowsfeet at the ends

See colour illustration (2)

Provenance

By descent from Captain Oates's elder sister to her great-nephew, the present vendor

Lot Essay

Laurence Edward Oates joined the Inniskilling Dragoons in South Africa in 1900 and was recommended (unsuccessfully) for the Victoria Cross during the Boer War. He remained a member of the regiment until his death in Antarctica on his thirty-second birthday (17th March 1912). The mess-waistcoat is of the type which was discontinued by most regiments in 1902.