Somme 1916, The Guards Divisions
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The military artist Caton Woodville painted a spirited canvas depicting Lt.Col. John Vaughan Campbell at the head of his Coldstream Guards battalions winning the Victoria Cross at Ginchy, on 15 September 1916. Lt.Col. Campbell (1) is shown wearing a French 'Adrian' helmet, but is otherwise in the proper service dress of his regiment. All the uniforms also include haversacks for the 'P' and 'PH' gas helmets which everyone in the painting is carrying except the Lieutenant-Colonel! Note the famous hunting horn with which he urged his men on - his Webley Mark VI .455-in. revolver, his buttons grouped in pairs and the ribbons of the Distinguished Service Order, King George V Coronation Medal, Queen's South Africa Medal and King's South Africa Medal.
Figure 2 shows a Guards private in the 'fighting order' worn by a Lewis gunner in 1916. Note the newly introduced 'Brodie' helmet, the 1908-pattern webbing, worn without the valise, and the haversacks for gas helmets. As they became available, Lewis gunners were issued with pistols as personal weapons.
Figure 3 depicts a lance-corporal of the Grenadier Guards serving with the 3rd Guards light trench mortar battery in 1917. Note the insignia of his regiment and unit, and note the method of carrying the barrel of the 3-in. Stokes trench howitzer.
© 2006 Osprey Publishing Ltd,
The Guards Divisions 1914–45 (Elite 61)
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