Wilson55 Auctioneers & Valuers
Lot 223
Colonel Commandant Webb Gillman's Holland and Holland presentation prize .22lr rook rifle, serial number 10646, originally in .295 but now sleeved to .22lr, 26inch octagonal barrel with fixed 50 yard and folding 100 yard sights, engraved Holland and Holland 98 New Bond Street London, Winner of the Field Rifle Trials 1883' scroll engraved side lever action, the figured chequered stock with silver plaque engraved 'R. M. Academy Steeplechase 1st Prize, Presented Presented to W. Gillman 9th May 1888'. The rifle is accompanied by a green canvas and leather Rigby labelled case for which it fits in bearing W. Gillman name to the lid, as well as a leather bound copy of 'Gilly' An Appreciation which also contains a funeral program and two Will letters.UK FIREARMS LICENCE WITH .22 RIFLE OR RFD REQUIRED. General Webb Gillman (b.26th October 1870 d. 20th April 1933)Webb Gillman or ‘Gilly’ was educated at Dullwich college before transferring to Army Cadets in 1888 and passing out as Second Gunner Royal Field Artillery in 1889. Gillman saw five years service in Ireland, promoted to Lieutenant in 1892, before taking on a period of service in India where he enhanced his already fine skills in horsemanship excelling at Polo and Pigsticking. During his service in India, Gillman was to win the Rook Rifle included in our February sale, the rifle butt being inlaid with a silver plaque engraved ‘R. M. Academy Steeplechase 1st Prize, Presented Presented to W. Gillman 9th May 1888'. In November 1898 Gillman returned to Woolwich where a lot of time was passed taking part in Drag Hunting and Polo until war clouds formed and in 1899 and he was sent to South Africa to take part in the second Boer War 1899-1900. Appointed to an Ammunition Column he took part with the French Cavalry Division in the Relief of Kimberley as well as being present at the surrender of Cronje at Paardeburg, the Battle of Driefontein, and the capture of Bloemfontein. Promoted to Captain in 1900, Gillman acted as staff officer in the Aro Expedition of Southern Nigeria being awarded the D.S.O. leading a storming party being ‘the first over a stiff stockade’. Further service in Africa saw Gillman promoted to Major in 1905 and then received Lieutenant Colonel in 1914 having worked with the War Office under the Director of Military Operations.Webb Gillman saw extensive and varied service during the Great War receiving numerous awards and being mentioned ten times in despatches. At the outbreak of WWI in 1914 Gillman assumed command of the 114th Field Battery in the 1st Division taking part in the retreat at Mons, the battle of Marne, and seeing severe fighting during the crossing of Aisne. Gillman acted as special liaison officer between Sir John French and Sir Douglas Haig during the first battle of Ypres rallying troops drifting back after some of the most vicious fighting of the battle. He next saw service in Gallipoli under Sir Charles Monro where he distinguished himself bolstering the confidence of soldiers from Privates upwards earning the complement ‘I don’t know how we should have ever got out of this show without Webb Gillman’ following the successful evacuation of the Dardanelles.1916 saw promotion to brevet colonel and in 1916 Gillman was sent to Mesopotamia acting as liaison officer between the War Office and Mesopotamia Expeditionary Force. He next received Major General and in 1917 he was selected to command the 17th (Indian) Division. Gillman eventually returned home in 1919 and was given command of the Catterick Camp Demobilization centre. His next appointment was that of Commandant of the Royal Military Academy in September 1920 where he stayed until 1924 when he was appointed as Inspector of Royal Field Artillery at the War Office. In 1926 Gillman was permitted to go as guest to the French Government as Military Attache on Marshal Petain’s staff in Morocco during operations against Abd-el-Krim in the Rifi country. He was the only foreign officer to receive this permission. In March 1927 Gillman was sent to Singapore as head of a Commission report on the defences of the new naval base. In October of 1927 he took up duties as Master General of the Ordnance and by 1931 was promoted to General. The case measures 74cm x 20cm. Upon Webb Gilman's death on the 20th April 1933, the rifle was passed through the family eventually being inherited by his grandson John Charles Webb Gillman (b.1948 d.21st November 2014) It is unknown when the rifle was rechambered to .22lr calibre but the current vendor took possession of the rifle from John Gillman as he no longer wished to renew his firearms certificate. The rifle has had an old reblue, this finish is now starting to wear and show signs of age. The bore is mirror bright, with a decent rifling pattern showing minimal signs of wear. There is a very small amount of wobble between barrels and action with the forend removed. The action works correctly with a strong spring. The stock has very minor split in the area between the butt plate and the silver plaque. The upper corners of the forend have small chips and are slightly rounded. The stock has some dents and marks throughout but nothing to defacing. Some screwheads show signs of being worked with an incorrect-size screwdriver. The case shows signs of a hard-working life and is going threadbare in places. The canvas has worn through on the corners. There is a section of the lid that is coming apart at the joints. The inside has some stains and wear to the lining. There is small rip to the label. Some of the partitions are slightly loose but still stuck in place. The book has some light foxing spots, there are stains to the tops of some pages where at paperclip has been in place and then rusted in position.
