Lt. Prideaux Brune's Boot Trunk

The engraved brass plate to the top of this leather boot trunk shows that it belonged to G.E. Prideaux Brune of the 6th Inniskilling Dragoons.

George Ernest was born in 1868 to a family from Padstow, Cornwall. He joined the 6th Inniskilling Dragoons as an 18 year old Lieutenant on the 8th September 1886, after studying at the Royal Military College. His career in the Dragoons lasted 6 years but his skills as a horseman must have been good as he played for the regiment's polo team in the Inter Regimental Tournament of 1891. He resigned his commission in 1892 but in February 1900, after the start of 2nd Boer War he joined the reserve list of officers for the 6th Dragoons. In July he was promoted to Captain in the 11th Imperial Yeomanry, with whom he fought in South Africa. He rose to Major the following year and was awarded the Queen's South Africa medal with clasps for Wittebergen, Cape Colony, Transvaal, South Africa 1901. He returned to England on The Mohawk, as an invalid, on February the 5th 1901 and in March he resigned his commission.

The leather hide has steel bands to the lid and mouth of the trunk to strengthen it and has leather handles to the sides. The corners are re-enforced with leather. The lid is also lined in leather and has straps which were probably to take boot pulls etc. The trunk is lined with green baise and has steel supports to take a now missing tray. The area under the supports is quite low so it's possible that it was to take sundry cleaning items with two or three trays of boots sat on each other above. The trunk has been well used with running repairs evident.

Given the regiment to the name plate Prideaux-Brune would have purchased this trunk between 1886 and 1892.