Colonel W H F Weber, , C.M.G., D.S.O., Royal Horse Artillery. An album with several signed portraits of General Officers who commanded in the First World War.

Colonel W H F Weber , Royal Horse Artillery. An album with several signed portraits of General Officers who commanded in the First World War. William Herman Frank Weber, Major, RA , Staff Captain, 6th Division, Irish Command 1912 at Mallow under Col W H L Paget. He had been commissioned in 1894 and served in South Africa and later in World War One.

William Herman Frank Weber, Major, RA , Staff Captain, 6^th Division, Irish Command 1912 at Mallow under Col W H L Paget. He had been commissioned in 1894 and served in South Africa and later in World War One.

An interesting album put together by Colonel William Hermann Frank Weber, C.M.G., D.S.O., Royal Horse Artillery who was a Staff Captain in Ireland with 6^th Division in 1912 serving under acting Brigadier W H L Paget and had served in the South African War. He lived after the First War at Birkin House, Dorchester and seems to have had strong connections with the Williams family of Bridehead, Dorchester [see Burke’s Peerage post 1920 or Landed Gentry before]. There are family pictures of him and his wife Benita and post war pictures of him as a leading figure in the local British Legion. In some of these he wears his medals whilst meeting the Prince of Wales at the Bath & West Show in 1928. Other pictures include war time views of France, musical and theatrical amateur pictures, family groups, hunting.

The album is in very sound condition bound in original half blue leather gilt, portrait folio [11 x 15ins] with just a little rubbing and wear at the extremities. There are a few ephemeral inclusions, a signed letter from Gen Sir Reginald Pinney, a card to the Colonel, etc.

The interesting and well annotated military portraits [in service dress unless otherwise described] include:

Alfred Schuster, 4^th Hussars [killed at Ypres Nov ‘14], 5 x 6ins seated

6 officers of J Battery, RHA winter 1925/6 [Fowler, MC, Cowan, Ralph Harrison MC, “Tom, in mourning for Wycliff” MC, Reggie Maitland, Barny de Robck MC] 11 x 7.5ins in tropical dress with pith helmets

ex Cos of 2/Dorsets at Depot Garden Party 1927 [Lord Ellenbro’, Caledon Egerton, Blosse-Lynch, “Pompey” Saunders, Radcliffe, all in civilian dress] 6 x 9.5ins

The Shop Boxing Team. One officer and 6 troopers in uniform, others in blazers, 11 x 8.5ins

“The Saddle Ride, Xmas 1926” in service dress uniform, 11 x 8.5in

“Edgar” commanding II Bde RHA (V + W + Cav Bde X)Aldershot 1905 Had a Div Amm Column in War. 3.75 x 5.5ins bust length in blues with cap, signed E. Lambart, Bt. Lt. Col.

Hugh Bedford-Pim my major in 10^th Battery at Ewshot 1904/05 3.75 x 5.5ins full length

Lt Gen Sir Lawrence Parsons, KCB, I met him (a) as OC 67 Battery RFA Limerick 1896, (b) as Buller’s CRA on Relief of Ladysmith 1900, (c) as Practice Camp Commander circa 1895 Bulford 1901, (d) as GOC 6 Div at Cork 1908-1910. Given me by Lady Parsons. 4 x 6ins three quarter length. A note between this and the portrait alongside reads “These two did not get on”

“Jawkins” BGCRA 6 Div Mallow 1908/09  4 x 6ins, half length in blues with cap

Lt General Sir E A Fanshawe KCB, Commanded 6^th DG at Mallow 1909/10, of which I was Bde Major. I first met him commanding H, RHA 1905. He became Inspector of Horse & Field which he was in 1914. Then CRA. Then evacuated Gallipoli as GOC 11 Div. Commanded V Corps 1916-1918. I4.4 x 5.5ins bust length without cap, on photographer’s card,  signed E A Fanshawe

Maj Gen Sir W Fry KCB, Commanding 30 Div October 1915 – May 1916 Frise. 4.5 x 8ins full length, signed and dated W Fry, M.G. 1921  Between this and the next photo the compiler has added I was GSO1 to both of these

General Sir J S M Shea KCB, KCMG, DSO 20^th Div 1916 – 1917 The Somme & Anas. He got 60 Div in Palestine 1917, then 3^rd Lahore Div. Became Adj Gen Indian Army, later in 1928 5.5 x 4ins bust length with cap, on photographer’s mount and signed J S M Shea

Maj General Sir Henry d’Urban Keay KCB, I was GSOII to him when commanding the Lahore Div 1915 – Neuve Chapelle, 2^nd Battle of Ypres, Festubert, and Loos.

A Portuguese officer in dress uniform with medals and orders inscribed on the leaf  Travelled home from S Africa with this man. He commanded “the  Geese” in France. Was later, for a short time, President of Portugal after a military revolution. 5.5 x 4ins bust length, signed and dated Yours sincerely, Capt Gomes da Costa, 6.1.98. This image suffers badly from offsetting of the portrait on the next leaf.

A full length portrait of a General Officer in a doorway, signed S A Craufurd. Noted on the leaf Commanded 18^th I B of 6 Div on March 21^st 1918. 6.5 x 9ins.

“Boy Brough. CO in 2 Bde RFA  4 x 5 ins bust length in Staff Captain’s uniform

“Tommy” Marden, GOC 6 Div 1917 (after Ross) – 19. Later Commanded British Troops at Chanak. 6.5 x 8.5ins, three quarter length, signed T O Marden

“Joe” Delaforce, CRA 6 Div. Lens, Camrai, March 21 ’18, Kemmel, April ’18, 100 days Battle March to Rhine. 4 x 6ins ?-F Delaforc

The Bishop of Hereford. He became senior Chaplain 30^th Div 1916, Bishop of Warrington, then of Hereford. 4 x 5.5 bust length in clerical frock coat, on photographer’s card signed in pencil Vandyk, the photograph signed Yrs ever ?Ch M Hereford.

Major General Sir R Pinney KCB, Racedown, Crewkerne, 25^th (Pigmy) Div Guillemont July 31 ’16. 33^rd Div Arras April ’17, Legion in Dorset. Young Bob wa at Shop with Dick. 5.5 x 7.5 full length, signed and dated Reginald Pinney, 21.4.18

Captain Vere Fergusson OBE (8^th H, HLI, Cameronians) Administrator of Nuers in Bahr el Ghazel . Murdered at Lake Jor (1924 visit) early in December 1927. 5 x 7.5ins bust length in civilian clothes. Note beneath reads I am now the last of the Kenezi trio on the White Nile Spring 1924