Pocket-sized copy of the New Testament dated 1917 published in London by Scripture Gift Mission and Naval and Military Bible Society and printed by Cambridge University Press. Owner unknown.

Inside the front cover is a facsimile of Lord Robert’s Message to the Troops.

25^{th August 1914. I ask you to put your trust in God. He will watch over you and strengthen you. You will find in this little Book guidance when you are in health, comfort when you are in sickness, and strength when you are in adversity- Roberts FM.}

^{Carrying and reading the Bible was popular amongst service men and women in the First World War. These copies of the New Testament were issued free and were often carried in the top right pocket of the tunic. On a number of occasions they are known to have saved the owner’s life by deflecting a bullet or a piece of shrapnel.}

^{Popular photography was transformed in the early 20th century by the Brownie. Cameras were also used during the First World War to record landscapes and locations as well as formal group pictures. it was the property of Company Quarter Master Sergeant Dick 1/4th Battalion KOSB treasured his camera and the robust leather case was probably made in the regimental saddlers’ shop and could be worn on the belt or with a shoulder strap.}

^{The 1/4th Battalion of the King’s Own Scottish Borderers was a first line Territorial Force Battalion. They were mobilised at Galashiels in August 1914 and sailed from Liverpool for Alexandria on 24th May 1915 as part of the 52nd Lowland Division. They later served in Gallipoli and on the Western Front.}

These cards were sewn by French and Belgian women and sold to the troops as souvenir post cards. The first card depicts the British Red Ensign decked with red ribbon and an olive branch with the word “Hope” beneath. It belonged to Sergeant Major Ernest Duncan Campbell of the Royal Engineers and was sent to his wife Maud. He had just taken part in the Battle of Loos. On the reveres is written.

My Dearest Maud. I hope you will like this card. There is not much writing on it but the little word means a lot. I am pleased to say I am feeling grand and I hope you are better with fondest love and kisses. XXXXX from your old Ernie. To Dearest Maud. From Ernie. Somewhere in France September 21st 1915.

^{The second card is in the form of a lace pocket decorated with flowers in patriotic colours and the Union Jack. Inside is a small card marked “All kind Thoughts” surrounded by flowers and crests – Australian Commonwealth Military Forces, United Kingdom, Canada, Belgium, France and the United States of America.}

The shell is edged with the Potter’s scroll and emblazoned “6th/7th Bn The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment)” with the Royal Crest and the Battle Honours of the Black Watch, including those of the Second World War.

^{It was customary when the skin playing surfaces were renewed for the drummer to record his name on the inside of the shell. On the shell of this drum is written in pencil, “Skin changed …..29th….1948 by Cpl Brogan……3rd June 1951”.}

^{The 6th (Perthshire) Battalion and the 7th (Fife) Battalion, Black Watch were Territorial Army Battalions and were amalgamated as the 6th/7th (Perth and Fife) Battalion in 1947.}

These two pins were purchased at the closing down sale of Messrs Jardine, Military Outfitters, Edinburgh, in the 1970s. The pins date from the First World War period. They were used to secure the kilt on the body, one either side. The Black Watch was probably the last regiment to insist that kilts were not kept in place with buckles and straps but with these pins.

This knife belonged to Sergeant Major Ernest D Campbell, Royal Engineers who served in the First World War. Such tools were essential in the trenches for all sorts of jobs. The knife was secured by a lanyard worn on the left shoulder.

These maps were issued to Aircrew operating over North West Europe and were intended to be hidden on the body and used to plan an escape if shot down over enemy territory.

This map is in three sections and covers Denmark and southern Sweden, Estonia, Finland and north western USSR, and Czechoslovakia, Poland and Lithuania to a scale 1:3,000,000. The international boundaries for Finland are those of 1st April 1940 and 1st September 1939 and for Poland the boundary is that before 1939. The map shows main cities, towns and ports, rivers, roads and railways.

Whistles were widely used in the trenches of the First World War primarily to give the signal to get out of the trench, mount the parapet and “go over the top”. They were also used to give warning of gas attack. The whistle was attached to a tunic button by the slit in the leather thong.

This item is believed to have been the property of George D Bruce an Indian Army Officer who served on the Western Front in France and Flanders.

A pair of clear glass dogs coloured black, white and red. 11.5 cm X 11 cm. 1 kg (pair).

These two glass ornaments were picked up from the floor of a deserted glass factory at Lille, France in May 1940 by Sergeant James Henderson, Royal Artillery during the retreat to Dunkirk and brought home to his wife.

Brass 17cm X 5.3 cm. 2 gms. Marked with Patent No. 116972/17. Undated but probably early 20^{th century.}

A button stick was an essential tool for cleaning brass buttons and white piping and prevented the uniform and equipment from being marked and damaged by cleaning materials.

^{The stick was either placed over the button using the two circular holes or run along the shank of the button using the oblong cut in the stick. Polish could then be applied and removed and the button buffed to a bright shine without the uniform being marked. To apply white pipe clay to the cloth piping trim on the cuffs and rear pleats of scarlet uniform jackets the edge of the stick was placed against the pattern of the piping and the whitening applied and allowed to dry.}

^{Uniforms were expensive but they had to be kept clean with the buttons polished. Until the introduction of “stay bright” buttons and the end of the general issue of scarlet uniform and the need for pipe clay, the button stick was a familiar cleaning tool.}

Brass hinged tobacco tin 13 cm X 8.5 cm X 2.7 cm with a Christmas Card 9.2 cm X 6 cm 150 gms.

An example of a tobacco tin and Christmas Card given out to British and Imperial troops in France and Belgium in December 1914, a gift from Princess Mary. The top of the box shows a profile of Princess Mary and the initials “M M” with the words “Imperium Britannicum, Japan, Russia, Monte Negro, Servia, France, Belgium and Christmas 1914”.

Scratched on the inside of the lid are the words “Robert Smith 52 Barnton Street Stirling”. The card reads “With Best Wishes for a Happy Christmas and a Victorious New Year. From the Princess Mary and Friends at Home”.

Once the original tobacco was gone these tins were used to keep treasured personal items safe and dry.

Bell with handle. Metal. 12 cm in diameter 13 cm high. 350gms. 1945.

A Victory Bell dating from the end of the Second World War sold in aid of the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund. The handle is decorated with the motif “V” for victory and in relief around the bell are the profiles of Churchill, Roosvelt and Stalin with the words, CAST WITH METAL FROM GERMAN AIRCRAFT SHOT DOWN OVER BRITAIN 1939-45 R.A.F. BENEVOLENT FUND.

Cloth covered sketch book 17 cm X 10.5 cm. 75gms. Supplied by E Gourjon, Maison Piteux, 3 Rue Gresset, Amiens. Dating from about 1917.

A Sketchbook containing a number of ink and pencil sketches relating to the First World War and a voyage to India. The pages illustrated show a pencil sketch of a British soldier in marching order and a group of seabirds. The drawings are the work of Colonel George D Bruce DSO, 61^{st Pioneers, Indian Army who was born in Scotland. Like many Officers and men of his time he was an accomplished artist, a skill that was vital in military reconnaissance.}

Gas Mask and cardboard carrying box. Rubber, metal and canvas with a Perspex eyepiece and an air filter device covering the mouth and nose. The box measures 13cm X 17cm X 11cm closed. 600gms. The mask is numbered 806 NBR-4-80A. Dated about 1938.

Gas masks were first issued to the civilian population in 1938 at the time of the Munich Crisis. Following the Spanish Civil War there was great fear of ariel gas attack on the civilian population. Masks were issued to fit adults, children and babies and the masks had to be carried at all times. This mask belonged to William Chapel, Solicitor in Arbroath. On the inside cover of the box are the instructions for use.

“When the Respirator is required for use.

Letter Opener in brass and copper made from a spent cartridge and a piece of copper. 17.5 cm. 50 gms. Dating from the period 1914 to 1918.

Many of these items were made by soldiers as souvenirs of the Western Front. The blade of this letter opener is tooled “Souvenir from France”. The rim of the cartridge reads “J.16 VII”.

China glazed milk jug, part of a set of Mess china, emblazoned with a regimental crest. 6 cm at base and 9.5 cm high. 200gms.

A milk jug from a set of Regimental china emblazoned with the crest of the 1^{st Argyll & Bute Volunteer Artillery, 1 & 2 Companies.}

^{Raised in 1861 and 1863 as the Argyll Artillery Volunteers and the Bute Artillery Volunteers this brigade was consolidated in May 1880 as 1st Argyll and Bute Artillery Volunteers with twelve and a half batteries. Numbers 1 and 2 were the Easdale Battery. Three quarters of the men were Gaelic speakers and by the turn of the century the unit had a large Pipe Band. In 1903 the Easdale Companies won the King’s Cup at Barry Buddon Camp. This jug probably dates from the 1880s.}

Card box and cast metal medal. Box 8 cm X 8 cm. Medal 5.5 diameter. 50 gms.

The unarmed 32,000 ton Cunard passenger liner RMS Lusitania was sunk by a German submarine on her return journey from the United States on 7^{th May 1915 with considerable loss of life many of whom were American. This is a copy of the German Medal issued to commemorate the event and these copies were used to encourage anti-German feeling particularly in the United States which at this time was neutral.}

^{The medal shows passengers queuing at the Cunard ticket office and being served by a skeleton to symbolise death and on the reverse the ship sinking beneath the waves. The inside lid of the box reads,}

^{“The “Lusitania” (German) Medal. An exact replica of the medal which was designed in Germany and distributed to commemorate the sinking of the “Lusitania”.}

Brass with steel spoon. 9.6 cm. 25 gms. 19^{th Century.}

^{A brass oil bottle used as part of the cleaning and maintenance equipment for a musket.}

Paper notes. 7.7 cm X 6.6 cm and 7.3 cm X 11.4 cm. 1943.

Three examples of Military Currency from the Second World War. In the countries of Europe liberated from German occupation it was important to re-establish normal life as quickly as possible and prevent inflation and black market trading. Accordingly the Allies issued Allied Military Currency in local denominations. The two smaller notes date from 1943 and are in Italian Lire. The third larger note is a British Military Authority one shilling note.

Box case made of wood and metal with a carrying handle probably made in Japan in 1945. 41cm X 18 cm X 26.5 cm. 2.75 kgs.

On their release in 1945 those Allied Prisoners of War captured by the Japanese who survived their ordeal had little or no possessions. Prisoners who had been taken to Japan as forced labour faced a long journey home. They were issued with basic clothing and toiletries and a small box such as this to carry personal items. The box appears to have been made in Japan. On the top is Japanese writing and, “ OFFICIAL Cpl.R. T. WILSON THE ROYAL SCOTS KOBE JAPAN”. On the inside lid of the box is written in pencil, “ Alex Borthwick 49 Fitzwilliam Rd Vaucluse Sydney”. The luggage label on the top is London North Eastern Railway from King’s Cross to Edinburgh. Corporal Wilson was one of the men who came home by ship across the Pacific and overland on the Trans-Canadian Railway across Canada where they were warmly welcomed in every city.

The 2^{nd Battalion Royal Scots fought in the Battle of Hong Kong}

A selection of seven brass Shoulder Titles dating from the First World War. Each approximately 4.5 cm.

Worn on either shoulder strap of khaki uniform brass shoulder titles identified corps, regiment and country. Like cap badges they were collectors items and were often given as gifts, as keepsakes or as tokens of appreciation.

These examples are Royal Horse Artillery (RHA), Australian Military Forces (AUSTRALIA), Royal Garrison Artillery (RGA), Army Service Corps (ASC), King’s Own Scottish Borderers (KOSB), Canadian Expeditionary Forces (134 Canada) and Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (A&SH).

Hall marked silver inkstand with ink bottle and pen. 21.6 cm X 14.5 cm and 8 cm high. 400gms.

Mess silver purchased and donated by Mess Members of the many Ships, Corps, Regiments and Squadrons is an important part of service life for senior ranks and officers. Originally such items were entirely functional and simply made life a little more comfortable by providing basic utensils. In the Victorian period particularly, items were donated on joining, marrying or leaving, for victory celebrations or as a forfeit for loosing a bet. Some of the finest collections of Mess Silver can be found in the Highland Regiments.

This example is from the Women’s Royal Army Corps Officers Mess at Guildford. On the disbandment in 1991 the silver was auctioned amongst the Officers of the Corps. This piece is engraved,

“PRESENTED TO WRAC HQ MESS BY COLONEL M. K. CREW-READ C.B.E. T.D. 1957”

Cable and Wireless Telegram form. Paper. 18.3 cm X 16.5 cm. 1945.

A Telegram informing a wife of news of a Far East Prisoner of War, probably the first news that she had heard from him for four years. Without modern telephone and satellite systems the most efficient way to convey news was by telegram. During wartime families viewed the arrival of a telegram with a terrible mixture of dread and relief as it was the way that the War Office informed relatives of the fact that a serviceman or woman was missing, dead, wounded or safe.

3059293 Private Thomas Turnbull Kelly, 2^{nd Battalion Royal Scots of Bridgend, Lasswade, Midlothian arrived in Hong Kong on 3rd March 1940. He was captured by the Japanese on the Surrender of Hong Kong on 25th December 1941. He was finally released on 6th September 1945. He was taken to Australia suffering from Malaria, Dysentery, Beri-Beri and Deafness and on 23rd September he sent this Telegram home.}

Three medals from the First World War together measuring 10cm X 10 cm. 50gms.

These medals, affectionately known as “Pip, Squeak and Wilfred”, were the three most commonly seen medals of the First World War and were awarded to British and Commonwealth Forces. Worn on the left side of the tunic they are from left to right the 1914 Star, with the bar 5th Aug.-27th November 1914, which marks the wearer out as an “Old Contemptible”, 1914 – 1918 General Service Medal and the Victory Medal 1914 – 1919.

^{The medals belonged to Number 2402 Lance Corporal David Gourlay Smith, 1st Battalion Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) who was killed in action aged 20 on 16th September 1914 at the Battle of the Aisne. He came from Kirkaldy in Fife.}