Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Queen’s Own Oxfordshire Yeomanry Cavalry Uniform Pertaining to Captain and Honorary Major J. F. Mason.
A fine quality uniform comprising:
Full Dress tunic of 1855 pattern, single breasted in dark blue cloth with collar and cuffs of regimental facings, the unique ‘mantua purple’ (though in fact nearer crimson) edged all round with silver cord. The breast ornamented with six silver cord loops with caps and drops, fastening with six silver-worked olivets. Broad silver cord epaulettes bearing double Bath rank stars, silver plated regimental finial buttons. The cuffs and collar with the elaborate silver cord lace in the rank of Captain. The reverse with correct pattern silver lace cord decoration.
Circular forage cap in ‘mantua purple’ cloth edged with broad regimental pattern silver lace and elaborate decoration to the crown, buff leather sweatband and crimson silk lining, original narrow black patent leather chin strap.
Two Mess Dress Jackets, both in blue cloth with coloured collar and cuffs, all round silver lace and silver cord decoration, plated teat pattern frontal buttons, regimental plated buttons to the cuffs.
Mess Dress waistcoat in ‘mantua purple’ again edged with silver lace, teat buttons to the front, hook & eye fastening and two pockets, rear panels in regimental coloured silk.
One pair of breeches in navy blue cloth, the seams embellished with two stripes of silver lace. The breeches ‘jacked’ with buff leather panels, the silver decoration bright overall, some moth damage to the crown of the forage cap, part perishing to the silk lining of one of the Mess jackets, some service wear and small repair to the breeches, otherwise in very fine overall condition (6) £700-£900

J. F. Mason, of Eynsham Hall, North Leigh, Witney, Oxfordshire, was commissioned Lieutenant in the Queen’s Own Oxfordshire Yeomanry Cavalry on 6 December 1882, and was promoted to Captain on 7 May 1890. He later served as Senior Captain and Honorary Major, still as such in 1898, but has left the regiment by June 1901.