Product Details
BOSS & CO.
A 12-BORE EASY-OPENING SINGLE-TRIGGER SIDELOCK EJECTOR, serial no. 6824,
29in. nitro chopperlump barrels, rib gold-inlaid '3', inscription faint, 2 1/2in. chambers, bored approx. 1/4 and 1/2 choke, right wall thickness below recommended minimum, toplever gold-inlaid '3', automatic safety with gold-inlaid 'SAFE' detail, gold-inlaid cocking-indicators, Boss 1905 improved patent single trigger, rolled-edge triggerguard, best fine bouquet and scroll engraving, retaining traces of original colour-hardening and finish, 15 1/4in. figured stock including 1 1/2in. wooden extension, weight 6lb. 8oz., in its brass-cornered oak and leather case, lid outer stamped 'Lord Somers.'
Provenance: This shotgun is the former property of Lord Somers and is being offered at auction by his Grandson, James Hervey-Bathurst, C.B.E.
Lt-Col. Arthur Somers-Cocks was born at Freshwater on the Isle of Wight in March 1887 to the noble family whose home is Eastnor Castle. On the death of his father he succeeded to the title and became the 6th Baron Somers.
Somers-Cocks enjoyed an active and successful military career, having joined the Life Guards from Charterhouse in 1906. He took leave to explore farming interests in Canada before returning and re-joining the 1st Regiment at the outbreak of the Great War. He was appointed as Commander of the 6th Battalion, Royal Tank Regiment having taken over from acting Lt-Col. Richard Annesley who was awarded the Victoria Cross; one of only four given to Corp members during the war. Somers-Cocks fought with obvious tenacity and bravery; he was twice wounded, mentioned in dispatches and was awarded both the Distinguished Service Order and the Military Cross. In addition, the French appointed him to the Légion d'honneur.
Lord Somers was also a cricketer of some note and as a schoolboy took 115 from the Westminster School bowlers. His abilities, predominantly as a bat, took him on to play a total of 17 first-class games; the first of which was for the M.C.C. and the others for Worcestershire. He was a vice-president for Worcestershire C.C.C. and later, in 1936, President of the M.C.C.
He was also involved in the higher echelons of the Scout movement for many years. This began when he became Chief Commissioner for the Boy Scouts in 1932, followed by Deputy Chief Scout from 1935 until 1941. Lord Baden-Powell, creator of the movement, died in 1941 and Somers-Cocks took his place as Chief Scout of the British Empire, a position he held until his own death at Eastnor Castle in July 1944.
Estimate £4,000-6,000
S2