Army takes command of silver collection
The Sunday’s Well Boating and Tennis Club presented the collection, which dates from the first Boer War to the army’s museum at Collins Barracks.
The collection includes the South African Cup, which was presented by officers who fought in the first Boer War, wine coolers, candle sticks, tankards, writing sets, tureens (covered serving dish) and a ladle.
The South African Cup is inscribed with the name of Lieutenant Aldworth, whose family-owned 36,000 acres around Newmarket.
He was a descendant of Lady Elizabeth St Ledger of Doneraile House, the first female Freemason in Ireland. The collection will go on display to the public over the coming days.
The collection was amassed through gifts from British soldiers based in garrison towns.
But it is the North Cork Militia (known as the North Corks) with which this collection of silver is most closely associated.
That militia went on to become the 9th Battalion of the King’s Royal Rifle Corps until dissolution at the turn of the century.
Over the years, its members favourite activities included hunting, shooting and fishing which in turn led to eating and drinking.
The soldiers often presented silver to mark the appointment of new officers, promotions, retirements and sporting events.
Its mess hall collection and a silver plate were given to the Cork County Cricket Club where it graced the sideboard at the club’s premises on South Mall.
When the club was amalgamated with the Cork City Cricket Club, the collection was taken into premises further down South Mall.
One of the most important items was a solid silver Rose Bowl, a gift from Lady Riversdale, which went missing but has turned up in auction houses several times over the years.
The rest of the collection was “kept in careful custody” until the Cork City Cricket Club amalgamated with the Sunday’s Well Boating and Tennis Club. The collection was kept at its premises at the Mardyke until yesterday.
Sean Flynn, acting chairman of Sunday’s Well Boating and Tennis Club to Brigadier General Pat Hayes, general officer commanding the 1st Southern Brigade.
