A leather case containing a compass from WW1 belonging to Lieutenant-Colonel Gerald Morphy Malone, MC, ED.
The brown leather oval case has long brown leather shoulder strap attached from sides of the case and a additional leather straps with belt buckle running across top of case to act as a locking mechanism. The long leather shoulder strap is in two parts with a belt buckle for adjusting the length. On one side of the top cap of the leather case, which swings open to the side, is indented in the maker’s name: J.B.BROOKS&COLTD, today known as Brooks England, and the date 1915, while written above, possibly with ink, is a capital letter B. On the other side and on the case body is carved in two capital letters: “B” and “H”, with the “H” smaller inside the lower gap of the “B”. Below these letters also on the case’s body is written upside down, possibly with ink, the name: “Malone”.
The compass is metal, possibly brass, and is black with brass coloured components, with indented degree markers running around the full side of the compass. Inside is a spinning grey metal disc with degree markings around its edges and an arrow pointing at zero degrees for north near the centre of the disc. The compass has a top cover that can be opened and has a glass centre with a vertical sight line and is hinged to one end with a folding sight and magnifying glass on the other end for taking readings. There is also a locking mechanism on the side of the compass for the spinning central disc. Below the folding sight device is a large folding metal ring. On the top cover is stamped in the words: “VERNER’S PATTERN” and “VII.”, and stamped on the underside is the name of the maker: “E.R. WATTS & SON LONDON 1915 No. 13403”.
