1907 Chapman markings.

[Peter sharpe]

Hi guys not sure if I'm on the right thread but here goes. I bought a 1907 bayonet dated 5/17 and on the pommel is an R over 33. Someone suggested that the R stands for reserves the 33 for a Flintshire battalion. I hope there's someone out there who knows the answer. Yours thankfully, Peter.

[welchboy]

Hi Peter, It is a 1907 Pattern British bayonet manufactured by Chapman as you already know. The date 5/17 is when it was issued to the unit, the R is as you were told stands for Reserve and the 33 is the battlion it was issued to.

Reference : oldmiliterymarkings.com/brit_bayo.html

[Peter sharpe]

Hi welchboy, any ideas on the battalion it was issued to? I've tried and tried to find out who the 33rd battalion was but other than it possibly being a Flintshire battalion no luck. All the best,Peter

[welchboy]

Hi Peter, At the moment no, I will see if I can find a connection.

[welchboy]

Hi Peter, Up to August 1916 Reserve Battalions kept their own Regimental affiliations, however, this changed on the 1.9.1916 when regimental distinctions disappeared when reserve battalions were re-designated as the 1st to 116th reserve battalion in one of the 26 Reserve Brigades.

With this in mind I have found 33rd Reserve Battalion ( original regiment was 13th (Reserve ) Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment ) and was part of the 8th Reserve Brigade which only used for Home Service during WW1.

[Peter sharpe]

Thanks welchboy for your detective work in finding where the bayonet belongs. Again many thanks, Peter.

[Peter sharpe]

Hello again welchboy, someone has suggested to me that the bayonet markings could be related to the
Northumberland Fusiliers, 33rd Reserve Tyneside Scottish, formed at Hornsea/ June 1916 from the 29th Battalion. Your thoughts on this new information will be greatly appreciated. Many thanks, Peter

[welchboy]

Hello again welchboy, someone has suggested to me that the bayonet markings could be related to the
Northumberland Fusiliers, 33rd Reserve Tyneside Scottish, formed at Hornsea/ June 1916 from the 29th Battalion. Your thoughts on this new information will be greatly appreciated. Many thanks, Peter

Hi Peter, the 33rd (Reserve ) Battalion ( Tyneside Scottish ) after 1.9.1916 was absorbed into one of the Training Battalions of the 20th Reserve Brigade and renumbered, and became the 84th Reserve Battalion.

Given that the bayonet was not issued till 1917, had it been issued to the former 33rd Reserve Battalion I would have expected it to read R 84, therefore I would say no it was not issued to the 33rd (reserve ) Battalion (Tyneside Scottish )

[Peter sharpe]

Thanks welchboy for putting the record straight. The bayonet will be labeled Royal Warwickshire Regiment (33rd Reserve Battalion). Thanks again, Peter.