2nd Life Guards

[Gspragge]

How easy (or not) is it to find the serving date of an Officer in this unit ?

W F Peel esq.
2nd Life Guards

There is a leather trunk bearing this name plate and knowing the service date would also date the trunk.
It needs restoration, but might be worth while if there is some age to it.

 

[TimG]

Your date range is 1788 - 1922. Does it appear to be an officer's trunk? If so, 'Army List' 'Hart's Army List' Additionally, try 'Burke's Peerage' as it was a very prestigious cavalry regiment, there's a high possibility he had a bit of 'blue blood.'

TimG

 

[Jimiles]

Putting 'W F Peel 2nd Life Guards' into Google brought up an extract of a letter from Gen. Wolseley, the Officer Commanding the relief expedition sent to Khartoum in 1885, in which he lists Lt. W F Peel, 2nd Life Guards as being one of his officers who had served with distinction.

 

[Gspragge]

Well that is good news, here is the trunk, needs putting together and so on. Made by Peal & Co Makers
11 Duke St. Grosvnor Sq. London. I couldn't see the marks until I had it in sunlight.

It was in a multi dealer antique shop (mostly rubbish) it was priced at $175 cdn. But I got it for $90 = 43 Pounds Sterling.
I'll work on it in good weather.

Nice that it has an honourable provenance !

Can you copy and send me the extract - I can't find it ?? I would like to print it out.

 

[Gspragge]

The firm is a famous one - and the records still exist, so when this box was purchased or ordered is still likely on record. However it clearly dates pre 1886.

Administrative History:

Peal and Company, boot makers produced bespoke footwear for 174 years, between 1791 and 1965. The founder of the family firm was Samuel Peal, a shoe maker from Wirksworth, Derbyshire who came to London and established himself at Stepney Green. Peal had taken out a patent for rendering clothing materials waterproof by finely brushing them with a coat of caoutchouc, Indian rubber solution. The process quickly proved its worth, Peal's boots and shoes becoming renowned for their comfort and durability. The success of their products allowed the firm to relocate to the more prestigious West End, at 7 Frederick Place, Tottenham Court Road. Further moves took place in 1830 to 11 Duke Street, Grosvenor Square; in 1886 to 487 Oxford Street and finally in 1958 to 48 Wigmore Street.

 

[Jimiles]

Try this link https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/25505/page/4041/data.pdf


There are several other references to 'W F Peel' including one from a Wrexham & Denbighshire newspaper listing Peel's promotion to Captain. This would suggest your man was Welsh.

Jim

 

[TimG]

Assuming it's the same person -

William Frederick Peel - Lt. 2nd Life Guards, 22nd Oct 1881

[URL]http://www.archive.org/stream/newannualarmylis1885lond#page/n131/mode/1up[/URL]

He doesn't appear in the 1890 List (but I was only looking at 2nd Life Guards). There is however, Reginald Arthur Haworth Peel - might be a younger brother. (update - They are not brothers)

Then there is this - [URL]http://www.thepeerage.com/p67059.htm[/URL]

TimG

 

[Gspragge]

Well that is something ! I'm sure it is, unlikely duplicate names at that period.
Quite the Military family too.