Three draw telescope by Dollond. Orlando J.C. Bridgeman, 98th Regt.
£320
Circa
1842
Maker
Dollond
Country of manufacture
UK and Ireland
Description
A good three draw nickel silver telescope, signed on the first draw, ‘Dollond, London. Orlando J.C. Bridgeman. 98th Regt’.
The telescope measures 9.5″ (24 cm) when closed and 28.75 ” (73 cm) when fully open with a main lens diameter of 1.5″ (4 cm). The lenses are damage free and give a good clear image. The mahogany barrel is free of cracks etc. It has a slide cover to the eye piece and a sliding sun visor to the objective end. With original leather case (lacking strap).
- 1st China War: Shortly after joining, Bridgeman deployed with his regiment to China in 1842. He served as a Lieutenant in Hong Kong during its early years as a British colony and during the First Opium War.
- Letters & Journals: While in Hong Kong, he famously wrote letters home providing unique historical accounts of the region. He described the area as largely barren, except for a single wooded area he admiringly called “Happy Valley”.
- Transfer to Cavalry: He continued with the 98th Regiment until 1845, when he transferred as a Lieutenant to the 11th Regiment of Hussars (Prince Albert’s Own), bringing him back to be stationed in England.
- Later Life: In his later years, he settled at 11 Berwick Road in Shrewsbury, where he died in October 1913. He is buried in the Shrewsbury General Cemetery.
The 98th regiment lasted fewer than 60 years as an independent unit. It was formed in Chichester by Lieutenant-Colonel Mildmay Fane in 1824. It was the sixth regiment to be numbered 98, but had no links to any of the earlier units. A year after its formation, it was sent to South Africa for 12 years, where its role was mainly to guard the white settlers. Police duties in northern England followed from 1837 to 1842, most notably keeping order during the Chartist political unrest. Its next overseas posting was to China during the First China War (1840-42). It fought at Chinkiang (Zhenjiang) and the advance on Nanking (Nanjing) in 1842.
The regiment lost 60 per cent of its strength during the conflict, mainly to heatstroke and disease. But it gained the honour of adding a dragon to its badge.
It moved to India in 1880 and the following year, it was merged with the 64th (2nd Staffordshire) Regiment of Foot to form The North Staffordshire (Prince of Wale’s) Regiment.
