A beautiful time capsule consisting of a 1908 pattern tunic, cap and brodie helmet. These bought all together and have been in my personal collection for quite some time. Firstly the tunic is in almost perfect condition for its age with minor moth nicks here and there which is common to see in tunics of this age. The tunic shows the insignia of the 1/5th South Staffordshire Regiment on each arm (red Staffordshire knot) as well as his marksman badge and overseas chevrons. On the inside of the tunic it still retains the original paper label dated 1918 and named to a Cpl Billequez. Alongside the tunic, the cap retains the original South Staffordshire cap badge with the red backing signifying 1/5th Staffs. The inside of the cap is lined with rifle pull through for the comfort of the wearer. The cap again has small moth nicks as seen on the pictures, again common. Finally, the 2nd pattern Brodie helmet is again marked to the 1/5th South Staffordshire regiment being identified by the red Staffordshire knot. The outside of the helmet is painted with a dark green rough textured paint and retains most of the paint with signs of use during the war with scratches etc. The liner is all intact and is still in very good condition including the chin strap. When looking closer into the helmet, you notice there is a named marked on one of the leather straps to a LT Briars. Whilst researching online I discovered a passage in a diary '
With the 46th (North Midland) Division on their left, the Canadians launched their attack on Hill 70 at 4.25 a.m. on 15 August and the first enemy counterattack came six hours later. By 11.30 a.m. a dozen waves of the German 4th Guards Infantry Division were moving diagonally in front of the British 137th Infantry Brigade, heading towards Hill 70. They maintained admirable order and were directed by a German officer riding a grey horse. The Allied artillery seemed to have little impact on the enemy advance, the enemy troops not faltering despite the losses they sustained. At 1700 yards, the machine guns of the 137th Infantry Brigade came into play and – at closer range – the Battalion’s rifles and Lewis guns were also able to target the German advance, though to little effect. As the Germans approached the Canadian lines, they came under heavy rifle and machine gun fire from the higher ground on Hill 70 and the trenches that had been captured in the early hours. Having reached them, the closest trenches now became the front line for what remained of the 4th Guards Infantry Division.
At 12.30 p.m., C Company was withdrawn from the Battalion’s right front trenches to enable the British artillery to shell the German trenches that were close by. When C Company went to return in the afternoon, reports suggested that 2 or 3 German stragglers were in their trench. 2nd Lieutenant Reginald Briars and a couple of orderlies moved along the trench to see if this was true; in a dugout, they came upon – and shot – two soldiers from the German 5th Guard Regiment of Foot, a private and a Sergeant Major. Although the Battalion was not directly involved in the fighting for Hill 70, 4 officers and 11 men from the 1/5th South Staffs were wounded on 15 August. Two men from the ranks and one officer were also killed in that day’s action – 16/200957 Corporal William Butler, 242149 Private Walter Elliott Skevington and 2nd Lieutenant Harold Swindells, who had received his commission on 28 March 1917; he had landed in France on 19 June and had joined up with the Battalion on 2 July, just six weeks before the assault on Hill 70.'
