Lot 5580

Description

Army pith helmet, c1870s, 4-pleated white puggaree, this loosely fitted, with one spike and one ball metal top pieces for helmet, these not fitted, brass and leather backed chinstrap fitted to inside hooks, leather sweatband with narrow magneta silk above and with fitted maker's label, 'Made In England/For/A.Bowley & Co/588 Collins Street/Melbourne', together with japanned storage tin on the lid of which is attached a brass plate engraved, 'Major F.T.Sargood.' The container with rusting, helmet has been repainted, otherwise very fine.

Frederick Thomas Sargood was born on 30 May 1834 at Walworth, London, England and came to Victoria, Australia in 1850. He worked in the Victorian Office of Public Works before joining the family business of warehousing, later becoming head of the firm, Messrs Sargood, Butler, Nichol and Ewen in Australia and Messrs Sargood, Son and Ewen in New Zealand. He entered the Volunteer Force in 1859 attaining the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. In 1874 he was elected a member of the Victorian Legislative Council representing South Yarra Province. He held many important positions representing the government and in 1883 was Minister of Defence and set about reorganising the various arms of the services. He was endowed with a CMG in 1884. He was Minister of Water Supply in 1885 and in 1886 retired. He was appointed Vice President of the Melbourne Centennial Exhibition in 1888. In 1890 he was knighted and appointed KCMG. In the same year he accepted office in the government as Minister of Defence but resigned in the same year. After Federation in 1901 he was elected a member of the Commonwealth Senate. Sir (Hon Lieut-Col) Frederick Thomas Sargood KCMG, VD died on 2 January 1903.

With research.