Boer War revolver connected to Gisborne family

A Webley revolver, similar to the one that sold at auction. Wikipedia image.

A BOER War-vintage Webley revolver, recently sold at auction, has been linked to a prominent Gisborne family after the buyer found a 100-year-old letter in the weapon’s grip.

The Webley Mark 111 was sold at Carvell’s, a specialist firearms auction house, after the Rotorua RSA closed. The letter, dated May 23, 1916, is from former Puha farmer Charles Granville Holdsworth.

The letter is written to a Lieutenant Little, who is buying the Webley. Mr Holdsworth writes of an employee of his, Charlie Jones, whom he thinks might be in Mr Little’s platoon.

Mr Jones is described as a good station hand who should make a good soldier.

Mr Holdsworth, born in England in 1881 and who died at Puha on 1951, is the father of the late Jim Holdsworth and grandfather of Peter Holdsworth of Pultron Composites.

Granville Holdsworth, as he appeared to be known, also farmed in Hawke’s Bay and the Bay of Plenty. He married Margaret Black, who died in 1976.

The Poverty Bay Herald of May 21, 1918, reports Mr Holdsworth, then aged 37, is volunteering for service in World War 1 after ‘‘a recent appeal’’.

Mr Holdsworth’s letter also says the revolver saw service in the Boer War.

The Herald was not able to ascertain in time for publication whether Mr Holdsworth served in the Boer War.

In the early years of New Zealand’s military history officers and some NCOs were expected to buy their own revolvers.

The Webley Mark 111 saw service in the New Zealand Army in the Boer War and World War 1, while they were also used by the Home Guard in World War 2, according to the New Zealand Antique and Historic Arms Association.