Captain Oates, Military Belt

Captain Lawrence Oates

A military belt and sword sling

Late Victorian cavalry officer's dress belts, including braided belt with red leather lining (around 43 x 910mm.), convex gilt buckle with silvered overlay decoration in the form of scroll, reading 'DIEU ET MON DROIT', with foliate bands surrounding crowned Victorian 'VR' badge (60 x 80mm.), braided sword sling with red leather lining (around 29 x 900mm.), with a lion’s head and serpent clasps (32 x 213mm.), in a glazed oak case (176 x 350 x 44mm.)

OFFICER'S BELT BELONGING TO CAPTAIN LAWRENCE OATES WHILST SERVING WITH THE 6TH INNISKILLING DRAGOONS DURING THE SECOND BOER WAR. Oates (1880–1912) was notable for his involvement in the ill-fated Terra Nova Antarctic expedition, led by Captain Scott. On their return journey from their unsuccessful bid to be the first to reach the South Pole, Oates, because he was suffering from frostbite and was putting his friends at risk by slowing them down, knowingly walked out into a blizzard on the 16th of March 1912, with the famous last words, “I am just going outside and may be some time”. Scott recorded the event in his dairy, writing that "He went out into the blizzard and we have not seen him since…We knew that poor Oates was walking to his death but though we tried to dissuade him we knew it was the act of a brave man and an English gentleman." Oates' body was never found, and Captain Scott and his comrades died nine days later.

PROVENANCE:

Believed to have been owned by Captain Lawrence Oates when he served in the 6th Inniskilling Dragoons during the Second Boer War; Sold in 1981 by Captain Oates' cousin, Lt Col G. Oates, late 6th Inniskilling Dragoon Guards, who was handed down his cousin's uniforms and equipment by his aunt, Captain Oates' mother, when he joined the Regiment; Lot 675, Coins & Militaria Sale (6884) 08/03/2013, Reeman Dansie Auctioneers