Beschreibung:

CAPTAIN LAWRENCE EDWARD GRACE OATES (1880-1912)
CAPTAIN LAWRENCE EDWARD GRACE OATES (1880-1912) A group of manuscript and printed ephemera from Oates's period serving with the Inniskilling Dragoons at Mhow, India, comprising: autograph manuscript hunting calendar, on a card with printed heading of the 'Mhow Hunt', inscribed by Oates with four dates and places for hunt meetings between 11 and 21 November (n.y.), 'at 6 a.m.' and inscribed 'Mrs Fryer' (the wife of his commanding officer) at head, also by Oates, 114 x 76mm; mimeographed typescript of regimental orders at Mhow, 12 October 1908, issued by Oates as adjutant to Fryer, noting amongst other matters the success of the move from Cairo to Mhow, 'In spite of the hospitality pressed on them the regiment left the Station with only one drunkard', and listing Oates amongst the regimental officers, four pages, folio; carbon copy typescript memorandum addressed at head in pencil to Lt-Col. F.A.B. Fryer, commanding officer at Mhow, undated, listing three precautions to be taken to counter the spread of plague and mentioning Oates as one of the officers who will inspect servants, 150 x 190mm (incomplete); a telegram from Mrs Rimington in Bolarum (India) addressed to the regiment and welcoming it to India, 8 October 1908; and four printed brochures for the Inniskilling Dragoons, comprising 'Instructions re baggage on moving to India', Cairo, 26 August 1908; the programme for a theatrical entertainment, Mhow, 15 February 1910; a 'Programme of sports' for 'A' Squadron, 26 February 1910, listing Oates amongst the judges; and a further programme for 'Regimental sports', 19 March 1910, listing Oates on the committee; 8 items in total. Provenance : Lt. Col. (later Brigadier General) Frederic Arthur Bashford Fryer (1871-1943) ad Mrs Frances Esme Fryer (1874-1946) -- private collection. Oates had joined the Inniskilling Dragoons in 1900, serving with distinction in the Boer War, where he was severely injured in the thigh, and subsequently, more peacefully, in Ireland and Egypt, and finally Mhow in India (modern Madhya Pradesh). He found Mhow 'a dull little place', and it was entirely characteristic of him to have alleviated the tedium with his love of hunting. It was from Mhow that he applied to join Scott's second Antarctic expedition, and he heard of his acceptance in March 1910, the date of the last of the regimental entertainments in which his name features here. The only Army man chosen, Oates's knowledge of, and skill with, horses was to be central to his role in the exhibition.