TOPIC:

An artefact that has been gathering dust over the past 10 years or so is this Boer War pipe. The bowl is rather worn and misses it closing lid, but It is interesting nonetheless as it has a direct connection to the Siege of Ladysmith. On the font of the bowl it reads:
“Presented to A. Grant”


“for Kindness to a Sick Comrade in the Siege of Ladysmith 1899-1900” on the reverse.


The lettering in the shield on the front reads: Semper Fidelis, which apparently is the motto of the Devonshire Regiment. In that Regiment there was a Private 5238 A.G. Grant so that can be him.

Both the stem as well as the bowl ring are hallmarked and as far as I can determine it stands for Birmingham in 1897.