Lot 5695

Description

Great Britain, 4th (The King's Own) Regiment of Foot, officer's shoulder belt plate, c1840s, reverse with leather backing and on this are remnants of maker's label, 'Hamburger, Rogers & Co', also printed in ink at top, 'T.Pepper Roberts'. Good very fine.

Hamburger, Rogers & Co, Gold Lacemen and Military Contractors traded under this name from 1839.

In Hart's New Army List of 1844 it records under 4th (The King's Own) Regiment of Foot that Theobold Pepper Roberts purchased a commission, at the rank of Ensign 15Dec1840. He was appointed Lieutenant on 02Aug1844. He was the regiment's senior subaltern in the Crimea in 1854 and left the regiment in that same year after nearly 14 year's service. In the previous year he had been the centre of an affray between the military and the police in Edinburgh. While in civilian attire he was attending the annual gymnastics games when he was jostled by a young boy so he hit him with his cane but unfortunately the hit was to the head and drew blood. When police tried to arrest him, members of his regiment, who were in uniform, tried to stop the police and a major altercation ensued. None of the soldiers were injured but six police were wounded, two or three rather seriously. Subsequently, several soldiers were arrested and charged with assault. The charge against Lieutenant Roberts of striking a boy was remitted by the Sheriff.

In 1839 Theobold Pepper Roberts of Mota was recorded as a member of the Petit Jury to try between our Sovereign Lady the Queen and the Traversers, at a General Assizes and General Goal Delivery held at Nenagh in and for the County and Riding. In 1844 he was also recorded in papers of the House of Commons as a person qualified to serve as a juror in the Northern Division of Tipperary.