Royal Navy Admiral’s Bicorn Hat, Epaulets – Sword Belt Kit

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VICE ADMIRAL Then
 

LT D.B. WILDISH, RN, CB
FULL
DRESS BICORN HAT, EPAULETS & SWORD BELT 
 

Like
New Condition!
Bicorn
Cocked Hat                     

Undated  
Made
by
 Gieve’s Ltd.                                Size   9
Sword
belt
33″ expandable + 3″            
Case
18 1/2″ L x 9 1/2″ H x 8 1/2″ W

 

Presented is a British Royal Navy, full dress, bicorn hat or chapeau formerly owned
by Dennis Brian Harvey Wildish, RN, CB (1914-2010), dating from when he served as a lieutenant from
1937 to 1943. It is in “Like New” condition, likely because it was never worn during the years of WW II. Dennis
Wilish was the son of Rear Admiral, Sir Henry William
Wilish, KBE, CB
. Young Wilish entered the Royal Navy as a cadet in 1932 and retired as a Vice Admiral in 1972,
a forty year career which is unusual in its length. In 1968 he was inducted into the Order of Bath as a Companion Commander.
His entire Naval service is in the detailed table below.

The bicorn
hat comes with a Victorian style tin case for the hat, epaulets and sword belt. and was made by Gieve’s Ltd, the
premier purveyor of British uniforms and accoutrement’s. A photograph of Wilish accompanies these items.

 

    Cocked hat, epaulets
and sword belt in under hat. Crazed mirror
Uniforms of this
quality from Gieve’s Ltd owned by a named Royal Navy officer are rare. They are wonderful display items, and
in that era were similar to the Royal Navy Uniforms that date back to Lord Horatio Nelson as is shown in the print near the
bottom of this page. They serve to establish a historic connection with the past as is shown by this lithograph
of British Royal Navy Uniforms dated 1834. This surviving example of a lieutenants uniform of this style is in its original “excellent”
condition.

 

 

       Royal
Navy Officer Uniforms from 1829
     Captain
Lieutenant               Midshipman
Marine




 

       Front and Back of LT Wildish’s full dress uniform bicorn,
cocked hat

 

 

CONDITION:
The hat is in excellent condition and may be considered “Like New”. The named case for the kit has 95% of its original
finish remaining with some minor scattered scratches, dents and minor surface oxidation. It’s mirror is crazed. The container
in the case for the belt is loose on the left bottom. The cover is removed by using the hole in the top and pulling up. The
epaulets and gold bullion hat trim are generally bright.

The sword belt is very good with some cracked and worn leather. 
 

   Epaulets
and sword belt
Naval Career of VADM Denis Bryan Wildish, RN,
CB
 

 

Wildish,
Denis Bryan
Harvey
“Dick”

Only son of Engr Rear­Adm. Sir Henry William Wildish, KBE, CB (1884-1973), and Elfrida Phyllis Bryant, of Formby House, Formby, Lancashire.
Married (11.06.1941,
St Hildeburgh’s Church, Hoylake) Leslie Henrietta Jacob (died 12.01.2009, aged 88), second daughter of Capt. C.W. Jacob, and
Mrs Jacob, of Merle Dene, Bidston; two daughters.

24.12.1914
Milton district, Kent

01.2009
still alive

 

Cadet

 

01.05.1932

 

Midsh. (E)

 

01.01.1933

 

S.Lt. (E)

 

01.11.1935

 

Lt. (E)

 

01.08.1937

 

A/Lt.Cdr. (E)

 

01.11.1944

 

Lt.Cdr. (E)

 

01.08.1945

 

Cdr. (E)

 

30.06.1948

 

Capt. (E)

 

31.12.1957

 

R.Adm.

 

07.07.1966

 

V.Adm.

 

06.04.1970 (retd 14.09.1972)

 

 

 

 

CB

 

08.06.1968

 

HM’s birthday 68 [investiture 26.11.68]

 

 

MID

 

01.01.1944

 

New Year 44

 

 

Education: RN College, Dartmouth (1928-1931); RN Engineering College, Keyham.

1932

 

 

1932

 

HMS Ramillies (battleship) (Mediterranean)

 

06.1932

 

 

(09.1932)

 

HMS Revenge (battleship) (Mediterranean)

 

12.01.1933

 

 

(02.)1936

 

transferred to Engineering Branch & study
at RN Engineering College, Keyham

 

01.09.1936

 

 

(06.)1938

 

HMS Nelson (battleship) (Home Fleet)

 

24.06.1938

 

 

(08.)1939

 

RN Mechanical Training Establishment [HMS Pembroke
(RN base, Chatham)]

 

14.05.1940

 

 

(12.)1941

 

Damage Control Officer, HMS Prince of Wales (battleship)
(10.12.1941 wounded in action)

 

1941?

 

 

1942?

 

HMS Kedah (base, Singapore)

 

1942

 

Staff of Fleet Engineer Officer, Far East Fleet

 

02.1942

 

 

02.1944

 

Engineer Officer, HMS Isis (destroyer)

 

29.02.1944

 

 

09.1946

 

RN Engineering College, Keyham

 

11.09.1946

 

 

1948

 

Senior Engineer, HMS Implacable (aircraft carrier)

 

(07.1948)

 

no appointment listed

 

1948

 

 

1949

 

Planning Staff, Exercise Trident

 

05.08.1949

 

 

1951

 

Staff of Engineer Officers’ Administrative Course,
RN Engineering College, Manadon, Plymouth [HMS Thunderer]

 

15.10.1951

 

 

1954

 

Assistant Naval Attaché (Technical), British Embassy,
Rome, Italy (to Italy, Czechoslovakia & Switzerland)

 

18.01.1954

 

 

(01.)1956

 

Engineer Officer, HMS Eagle and Staff Engineer
Officer to Flag Officer Heavy Squadron

 

1956

 

 

1958

 

Admiralty, Officer Planning Section, 2nd Sea Lord’s
Department

 

1958

 

 

1960

 

Admiralty Engineer Overseer, Southern District

 

19.04.1960

 

 

26.11.1962

 

Deputy Director, Fleet Maintenance (Organization),
Fleet Maintenance Division, Department of Dockyards and Maintenance, Admiralty [HMS President]

 

26.11.1962

 

 

1964

 

Director of Fleet Maintenance, Fleet Maintenance
Division, Department of Dockyards and Maintenance, Admiralty [HMS President]

 

1964

 

senior officers’ war course

 

1964

 

 

1966

 

Commodore, Naval Drafting

 

26.10.1966

 

 

1970

 

Admiral Superintendent HM Dockyard, Devonport

 

06.1970

 

 

1972

 

Director General of Personal Services and Training
(Naval) and Deputy Second Sea Lord

 

Rep. RN at cricket, also RN, Combined Services, Devon, and W of England at hockey

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