Height overall: 36.5cm (14.3in).
Aluminium cylinder, wood hoops, leather tab and rope tensioning. Emblazoned with the cabossed stag’s head and Queen’s Crown by Henry Potter & Co, Makers. / 36-8 West Street, Charing X Road, London, flanked by Battle Honours from Mysore to the end of the Second World War.
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The firm of Henry Potter of Charing Cross was established as an independent concern in 1872. Hitherto Henry (I)’s father, also Henry (II), had run a drum making business at 30 Charing Cross since 1856. Prior to that, Henry (II) ran his business from 2 Bridge Street, Westminster, having inherited an interest in drums from his father Samuel, formerly a drum-major of the Coldstream Guards who left the Army in 1817. Other members of the extended Potter family were also engaged in the drum and flute making business for many generations. A notable contemporary being Henry (I)’s brother George Potter of Aldershot whose firm continued the craft in the traditional manner until the introduction of rod tensioned and transfer decorated drums in 1960.
The present drum was made and issued in 1919 to mark the granting of new Battle Honours won during the First World War.