A Rare First War Royal Navy Paymaster Captain’s Bicorn Hat and Epaulettes with box

1) Royal Navy Paymaster Captain’s bicorn hat composed of black felt and black lace around outside edges; side features gilt button with King’s crown and fouled anchor surrounded by gold bullion decorations; gold bullion wire decorations in folds on front and back; natural leather sweatband labelled “6 ⅞” and name of the hat’s owner - “H. F. Hewetson”; inside lined with white silk featuring maker’s mark and “Owen Harries & Co, 15 Russell Street, Landport”; dusty (petal dust) with foliage debris in folds of hat; mothing on leather sweatband; bullion wire well attached but frayed at some spots; overall condition near very fine. 2) Set of Paymaster Captain’s epaulettes composed of gold bullion with velvet crown and star; underside of epaulettes lined with black leather with maker’s mark “Owen Harries & Co, 15 Russell Street, Landport”; felt shoulder padding and hardware for attaching epaulettes to uniform; dusty (petal dust) with foliage debris caught in gold bullion wire decorations; some strands slightly kinked; overall condition very fine 3) Storage tin with maker’s mark “Gieves” and “Rec No 408847” on top section of lid along with handle; lid features sliding closure that can be locked via loop on side of tin; inside is lined with red coloured velvet; storage pocket on the underside of the lid, with two folding shelves for epaulettes, and two lined storage compartments; extremely dusty (petal dust) with foliage debris and discoloured felt liner from age and weathering; overall condition very fine.

Hubert Frederick Hewetson was born on February 13, 1886 and was appointed as Acting Payment Lieutenant Commander within the Royal Navy on July 15, 1903. He retired from the Royal Navy on February 13, 1911 with the final rank of Acting Paymaster Captain. (C:79)