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Great Webley WG Revolver with provenance to British officer served Boer War and WW1
Guns International #: 100790865 Seller's Inventory #:
Category: Webley Revolvers - Military Revolvers - Non-US
Seller's Information
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Seller: DScheeres
Company: Pembroke Fine Arms
Member Since: 8/11/08
First Name: David
Last Name: Scheeres
State: State not Found
Country: United States
Phone: 011-44-164-668-9900 FROM USA
Total Number of Listings: 7
Seller: Private Seller
Return Policy: 3 day inspection and return policy on used guns.
GUNS LOCATED IN USA
Payment Types Accepted: Bank transfer USPS MO's Checks
Description:
Henry Herbert Newson Smith
Webley Army Model WG Calibre .455/476 Serial Number 13612
Henry Herbert Newson Smith was born 16th December 1876, Baptised 21st July 1878 at Holy Trinity Haverstock Hill, Camden, London.
Son of Henry Newson Smith a successful accountant and financier in the City of London. Henry Newson Smith was a renowned art collector whose speciality was William Constable RA.
Henry Newson Smith financed and owned many of the most famous music halls of the day including the Tivoli and was said to have founded the modern British entertainment Industry. Sibling to Sir Frank Newson Smith who became Lord Mayor of London in 1944.
Sold with a large amount of family biographical details.
The condition of the revolver as can be seen is 90% plus with most original colour, mechanically excellent the revolver is engraved H Newson Smith 1899-1900 on the backstrap which would indicate participation in the Boer War.
The Webley details of sale in this serial range were researched by Richard Milner but found to be destroyed.
It appears that Newson Smith was commissioned in the Manchester Regiment that saw extensive action in the Boer War and was in action at Ladysmith, Kimberley and Mafeking and saw heavy fighting at Modderspruit in the company of the Imperial Light Horse taking many casualties. The Manchester Regiment were awarded two Victoria Crosses in the Boer War.
The revolver is intriguingly dated 1899-1900 so it is hypothesised that Newson Smith was wounded and invalided home as the Boer War ended in 1902. Newson Smith crops up again at the start of the Great War.
The London Gazette states Herbert H Newson Smith to be temporary Captain. Dated 30th September 1914. This was the 13th Battalion Manchester Regiment. This would clearly indicate that he volunteered at the outbreak of the War. Henry Herbert Newson Smith survived the War and his service record is available at the British National Archives where he is ranked as a Major 1916-1919. These records are not digitised but available as WO 339/17444 . Sold with additional family research.
Its good to find a gun with provenance, a handsome revolver that would enhance any Webley or Military revolver collection. Revolver located in Oregon, Antique so no FFL so will ship anywhere where legal to own.
Worthy of much further research.
SOLD
Antique: Yes
Manufacturer: Webley
Model: WG
Caliber Info: 455/476
Chambers: 6
Bore Condition: V.Good