An Inscribed Field Compass to a Corporal of the 10th Hussars 1881

A rather sophisticated little brass pocket field compass presented to a Junior NCO with the 10th Hussars with the following inscription:

Presented to
Corpal JA Gamble by
Col EA Wood
10th Hussars 1881

There must be an interesting story behind such a gift, possibly the Col had him as his batman or they were involved in some escapade on some grand adventure in the colonies. The 10th Hussars were based in India during this period. Wood Commanded the regiment during the Afghanistan War in 1878, was made full Lt Col in 1881 and returned to England in 1884.

Edward Alexander Wood CB (8 May 1841 — 22 May 1898) was an English first-class cricketer and British Army officer. Wood was a career soldier in the 10th Royal Hussars, rising to the rank of major-general. He fought in both the Second Anglo-Afghan War and the Mahdist War, with Wood being made a Companion to the Order of the Bath for his service in the latter.

Code: 51607