Description
Object description
Jacket, Service Dress, 1913 Pattern: Captain
Physical description
Single-breasted four-pocket service dress jacket with pre-1916 cuff rank. The jacket has metal regimental pattern shoulder titles attached to the epaulettes and the crossed pick and rifle collar badges of a pioneer battalion in brass fitted to the open collar. The exposed buttons are of regimental pattern and worsted cuff rank is that of a captain. To the lower right sleeve is fitted a matching pair of blue inverted overseas service chevrons, but a third, in red wool, is crudely hand embroidered direct to the cloth incorrectly above the two of blue. Above the left breast pocket are sewn the ribbons of the following awards: Military Cross; 1914-15 Star; British War Medal; Victory Medal.
History note
This service dress jacket was worn by Captain George Scott Fortune during the First World War. Fortune is known to have been commissioned as a Temporary Second Lieutenant on 22 October, 1914 (gazetted 17 November) and to Temporary Captain 13 January, 1918 (gazetted 7 March). Serving with the 18th (Service) Battalion (1st Tyneside Pioneers) he is confirmed as serving in France from 7 January 1916 with the 34th Division and his family believe he participated in the actions of 1st July on the Somme, near the Lochnagar Crater.
Captain Fortune's medal index card confirms only the awards of the British War Medal and the Victory Medal (applied for in 1923) and at the time of writing his eligibility to a Military Cross has yet to be established. Whilst he qualified for the two blue overseas service chevrons (evident on the lower right sleeve), there is no indication that he was entitled to adopt one of red (indicating overseas service prior to 31st December, 1914).
Photographs of Fortune are held in the file, including two studio portraits and a group photograph that shows him attending Staff College in August, 1915.