United Kingdom. The Royal Welsh Regiment Lord Lieutenant's Dress Cap of Sir George Hamer

Fabricated from black wool on the exterior, with a 52 mm wide band in red wool around its circumference. There is an 47.5 mm (w) x 63.5 mm (h) Royal Welsh Regiment insignia sewn in place on the front, the insignia in gold-coloured bullion wire, in various textures, touches of black threading at the base and blue embroidery in the ribbon banner, surmounted by the King's crown in silvered and gold-coloured bullion wire, in various textures, maroon felt in the void of the crown, with touches of red and green embroidery along with black threading giving definition to the base of the crown. The stiff visor is finished in black patent leather on the upper, with two facing branches of oak leaves in fine silvered bullion wire across the width of the visor, the raised midribs of the leaves in rolled silvered bullion wire, the edge of the visor trimmed in a strip of black patent leather. There is a two-piece strap in leather with a black patent upper, the strap with matching dual adjustable sliders, running across the front between the silvered buttons on either side, each of the buttons bearing the King's crown within an open-ended wreath of laurel leaves. The underside of the visor is in a forest green synthetic material, the underlying stiff framework on the sidewalls wrapped in a coffee-coloured brown nylon. It incorporates a 54 mm wide sweatband in leather, the upper with a smooth cinnamon brown finish, the ends of which are stitched together and finished with a champagne-coloured ribbon at the rear. It is emboss stamped "Real Roam Leather" on the left side, with a size 7 label at the right rear. The dome incorporates a light green-tinted moisture shield, covering the Moss Bros. manufacturer's insignia. The cap measures 250 mm in width x 288 mm in depth x 150 mm in height, exhibiting light soiling on the moisture shield. It is free of mothing and soiling, of very fine quality manufacture, displaying a wonderful texture in the wool, along with quality workmanship. Near extremely fine. Accompanied by a 77 mm (w) x 38 mm (h) beige card inscribed "Mr. George F. Hamer, / Summerfield Park, Llanidloes.", the card exhibiting spotting.

Footnote: George Frederick Hamer, C.B.E. (1948), Knighted (1955), Lord Lieutenant of Montgomeryshire and Custos Rotulorum 1950-1960, was born on March 19, 1885, the son of Edward and Martha Hamer (née Matthews), Summerfield Park, Llanidloes, Montgomeryshire. He married Sybil Dorothy Vaughan Owen (High Sheriff of Montgomeryshire 1958), third daughter of Dr. John Vaughan Owen and Emma Wigley Owen (née Davies), at St. Idloes parish church, Llanidloes on July 1, 1920, the couple having one daughter, Shirley Margaret Wynn Hamer (Lady Hooson). He was educated at Llanidloes Grammar School and began his business career in 1902 when he joined the staff of his father's firm, Edward Hamer and Co., at Llanidloes. The firm farmed extensively and were pioneers in the Welsh mutton trade, being purveyors to three monarchs. In 1919, Sir George became sole proprietor of a firm of leather manufacturers bearing the name of his brother, T. Pryce Hamer, who was killed in action in France during the First World War. Sir George became chairman of directors when the firm became a limited company in 1946, but relinquished the position in June 1954 when there was an amalgamation with another firm, although he remained a director of the company. He was a member of Llanidloes Borough Council 1919-1954, Mayor on eleven occasions; Alderman 1932; Honorary Freeman of the Borough 1948; Montgomery County Council 1929 (Chairman 1951-1954 and 1956-1958); Alderman 1949; Chairman Montgomeryshire Education Committee 1947-1951; member of Council for Wales and Monmouthshire 1949-1954 and 1956-1959; Chairman of Wales Gas Consultative Council and member of Wales Gas Board 1949-1958; member of Central Advisory Council for Education (Wales) 1945-1949; member of B.B.C. Advisory Council for Wales 1946-1949 and a member of the Welsh Joint Education Committee. J.P. Montgomeryshire 1932 and Chairman of Llanidloes Borough and Upper Petty Sessional Benches 1950-1960; Chairman Montgomery County Magistrates' Committee. High Sheriff of Montgomeryshire 1949. County President Venerable Order of St. John for several years; President Montgomeryshire Boy Scouts' Association; President Montgomeryshire Playing Fields Association; Chairman Montgomeryshire Assessment Panel; Chairman of Governors Llanidoes Secondary School; Member of the Governing Body Colleges of each of the constituent of the University of Wales; member of the University Court; Vice-Chairman Mid-Wales Police Authority; Member of the Court of Governors and Council of the National Museum of Wales; Member of the Court of Governors of the National Library of Wales; member of the North Wales Development Council; Vice-President of the Industrial Association of Wales and Monmouthshire; member of the General Committee of the Council for the Preservation of Rural Wales; Chairman of Llanidloes Boys' Club from its foundation in 1937. He became completely involved in the life of the community which he served in all its aspects but perhaps his most significant contribution was the firm and able leadership which he gave to the education service in the implementation of the 1944 Butler Education Act. His philosophy of education in the twentieth century derived its inspiration from the two Liberal Members of Parliament for the county of Montgomery who played a significant part in the development of Intermediate and Higher Education in Wales in the nineteenth century, Lord Stuart Rendel and A.C. Humphreys Owen. Alderman George Frederick Hamer, Justice of the Peace was a recipient of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Commander, Civil Division, "For public services in Montgomeryshire", the announcement appearing in the Supplement to the London Gazette 38311 of Friday, June 4, 1948, on Thursday, June 10, 1948, page 3374. George Frederick Hamer, Esquire, C.B.E. was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1955, "For public services in Wales. Lord Lieutenant of Montgomeryshire", the announcement appearing in the Supplement to the London Gazette 40366 of Friday, December 31, 1954, on January 1, 1955, page 1. He died on February 3, 1965, at the age of 79 and was buried in Llanidloes.