BELT
Dimensions107.5 x 5.3 cm
Object numberHF.73.346.6
DescriptionWide leather belt with a brass rectangular buckle that has rounded corners and a central bar with two pointed appendages. Also know as a Sam Browne belt. Behind the buckle is a brass stud with a rounded knob head. On either side of the rivet is a brass ring attached by a leather loop that is secured to the belt by a rivet. Attached to the top brass ring is a leather loop providing support for the shoulder strap. The shoulder strap has other point of attachment at series of three holes and slits and hooks along the length of the belt. The belt ends in an arrowhead shape. Ahead of the arrowhead is ten set of holes in pairs along the edges of belt, between the pairs of holes are five larger holes.Narrative
This style of belt is the Sam Browne belt and was named after Sir General Samuel James Browne. After losing his left arm while serving in India, he developed this style of belt with an additional cross-body strap which replaced the need of the left hand holding the scabbard steady while retrieving it with the right hand. This type of belt became more popular during the Boer War and eventually became part of the Canadian military uniform prior to the First World War. This specific belt belonged to F.W. Tidmarsh who fought in the Boer War.
Collections
