Bulletin No. 71 - Twelve Drummers Drumming!
Kicking off proceedings for the festive season we are pleased to present a fittingly decorative and scarce engraving of Bandsman James Frazer who found fame in Georgian London as a percussionist and performer with the band of the Coldstream Guards. Overseeing a selection of seasonal mess silverware, ranging from a shell-shaped sugar shaker to a light cavalryman’s generously proportioned snuff mull, is our fine portrait of the Lord St Vincent who fell at that most quintessential of Victorian battles, Abu Klea, fought in the attempt to rescue the ill-fated General Gordon at Khartoum. A well documented display of Waterloo relics, along with an unusual reminder of an unorthodox approach to naval warfare by watercolourist Francis Russell Flint perhaps hints at the breadth and depth of the Xmas offerings just added to the Armoury site. We do hope that you will find something of interest. We will be open as usual up to the close of play on 23 December, and for once have plenty of time for worldwide shipping!
Coldstream Guards - Bandsman James Frazer, 1789
Before signing off, we’d like to take this opportunity to welcome Wesley Castelain who has been promoted up from the ranks from Saturday staff to a full-time member of the ASJ team!
If we don’t see you in person this festive season, we would like to extend our thanks to those who have supported the ASJ via our various channels throughout the year, and to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
James, Toby & George