Gunsmith from Gettysburg, PA

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03-10-2019, 11:37 AM
bigboredouble

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Gunsmith from Gettysburg, PA

Thanks for letting me join. I was told you may be able to help me with a rifle I have. It's a BSA made, Lee Speed Enfield Sporter, serial number 6422. It is stamped William Powell & Sons on the rib. I have been working with a historian who was able to find the original hand written ledger entry when this rifle was ordered. It says it was ordered by Lt. Col. Wheler of 114 Lansdowne Place Hove England. I am trying to find any info on the Lt. Col. Wheler. Can anyone help me with this. I'm not sure where to look.
03-10-2019, 12:54 PM
browningautorifle

If you take the address to Google Earth and stand in front of the residence, it was very upscale back then...that would have been a hundred years back.
03-10-2019, 03:31 PM
bigboredouble

I really need to find out who this gentleman was and where he served. This rifle is going to be in 2 books that are being written.
03-10-2019, 04:05 PM
#1oilman

Beautiful piece! Great wood!
03-10-2019, 05:34 PM
Charlie303

BBD,
You might get the help you need if you post this on the Lee Enfield forum? I think it would be appropriate.
Cheers
03-10-2019, 07:37 PM
mrclark303

Quote:

Originally Posted by browningautorifle

If you take the address to Google Earth and stand in front of the residence, it was very upscale back then...that would have been a hundred years back.

Very smart regency apartments Jim.

Looks expensive now, I'm sure they were just as expensive back then.
03-11-2019, 12:34 AM
bigboredouble

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With alot of help on another forum, I think we discovered who the original owner was. Lt. Col Francis Henry Wheler 81st Rgmt who served in the Afghan Campaign from 1878-1880 and who was at the Battle of Ali Musjid. Here's the original ledger entry with translation. I need to find out all I can about Mr. Wheler.
03-11-2019, 04:59 AM
muffett.2008

You could try searching the Military listings for his name and rank. Along with the Unit records.
03-11-2019, 06:00 AM
Patrick Chadwick

Wheler - 81st.

How about this:

https://digital.nls.uk/british-milit...hive/104498666

An ensign in 1867 - that seems to fit.

Good luck with the search!
Patrick
03-11-2019, 06:16 AM
Patrick Chadwick

BTW, I watched the gunsmith film. Awesome dedication and patience to turn raw materials into a masterpiece of craftsmanship.

---------- Post added at 11:16 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:11 AM ----------

This could be F. H. Wheler's father:

Sir Francis Wheler, 10th Baronet - Wikipedia
03-11-2019, 06:30 AM
Gil Boyd

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There is a great deal on this officer in his time with the 81st Regiment of Foot, Loyal Lincoln Volunteers. Good luck
03-11-2019, 02:47 PM
bigduke6

Try Ancestry UK, may dig a lot more up on him, plus you should be able to pull his Miliatary record from the National Archive........
03-11-2019, 06:22 PM
Patrick Chadwick

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gil Boyd

There is a great deal on this officer in his time with the 81st Regiment of Foot, Loyal Lincoln Volunteers. Good luck

Gil, the person in the portrait is not the man under discussion, it's his father.
03-12-2019, 03:51 AM
Gil Boyd

:lol::lol:keeping it in the family, born in 1841, he would have had a similar uniform

The 81st Foot was raised in Lincoln in 1793 on the outbreak of war with revolutionary France as the Loyal Lincoln Volunteers.

In 1794, it became the 81st Regiment of Foot.

In 1833, it incorporated Loyal Lincoln Volunteers in its title as most of its recruits had come from the Lincolnshire militia.

On 1 July 1881, the 81st amalgamated with the 47th (Lancashire) Regiment of Foot to form the Second Battalion of The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment.

In 1920, the Loyal North Lancashire became The Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire).

On 25 March 1970 The Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire) merged with The Lancashire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Volunteers) to form The Queen's Lancashire Regiment.