Source: File: Diamond engagement ring.jpg, 2015. 1915 Edwardian
Engagement Ring antique engagement
rings.com. [online] Available at:<http://antiqueengagementrings.com/shopping/shopexd.asp?id=2335> [Accessed:
15 February 2015].
New Bond Street, London on 5 January
1915,
Saw a normal day on capital's
streets - among
The shoppers was a Jack Reginald
Kershaw,
Aged 21 - who stepped into a London
West End
Jewellers store, 'Alfred Cartier' at
number 175.
To all appearances Jack
Kershaw, was an
Army officer, fully equipped in
officer's uniform
Of a Second Lieutenant, with the 21st
Royal
Fusiliers - he approached a keen
salesman,
Edward Bell, to view some engagement
rings.
Only too happy to serve a customer,
dressed
In the Cloth of the King’s army,
Edward Bell
Presented him a tray of their rings
- perhaps
Indicating the best - dependent on
the price
To spend - the Lieutenant took a
close look.
Making a comparison of the rings, he
asked
Mr Bell to put six of the jewels
aside for him,
To view again the next day, when he
would
Probably bring a lady with him - to
seal this
Deal he wrote his name, Hon. J.R.
Kershaw.
Those rings were put aside - but the
officer
Did not return - a few days later,
Edward
Bell, on checking stock, discovered
a jewel
Missing - plain platinum centre with
a single
Pearl, worth £108 - checking the
directory
Mr Bell could not find the
customer's name.
Into the second week of January, the
‘officer’
Went to 130 Regent Street, London -
to enter
The shop of Carrington and Co,
Jewellers -
Managed by James Fergusson MacDonald,
For the Owner - a William Carrington
Smith.
The customer, wearing uniform of the
Royal
Fusiliers, wished to consider an
expensive
Engagement ring – with one place
aside,
Of pearl and diamond, the officer
asked to see
Diamond watch wristlets and
cigarette cases.
The ‘Second Lieutenant’ deciding not
to buy,
At that point – saying he would
return with a lady
The next day – his given name Hon.
Rex Knox.
Two weeks passed, when this officer
called back
Into the shop, to say the lady had
meningitis.
The Hon Knox said they would call
another day.
His suspicions aroused, the manager
took stock
Of rings after he had gone - but all
were there.
It was some time later they found
that a lady’s
Diamond watch bracelet was actually
missing.
On two more occasions, after other
shops were
Visited By Hon John Knox , these
similar jewellers
Found absent items - Identical
evidence emerged
In respect of the Hon
John Knox claims as being
A resident at the Hotel Cecil,
London, as false.
The Savoy Hotel, 1 February,
Detective-Sergeant
Adams of the city Police arrested a
young officer
On a charge - with being cautioned,
Jack Kershaw
In the khaki uniform Officer Jack
Kershaw stood
In the dock at Marlborough
Police-Court charged
With stealing - stated as Jack
Reginald Kershaw
21, of Dunsford, Godalming without
occupation.
The list of stolen items included
the lady’s pearl
Ring £108-a watch bracelet £45-from 68
Piccadilly,
Samuel Smith and sons - a diamond
watch head
£20 and a single stone diamond ring
£67 10s -
From the Grand Hotel building,
Trafalgar Square.
Having made his confession and
statement
To tell the truth, Mr Kershaw cooperated
fully and
Reserved his defence, to be led by
Mr Arthur
Griffith. The stealing second
Lieutenant would
Appear at the Central Criminal Court
for his trial.
by Jamie Mann.
Anon.,1915.
Alleged
Sham Officer – Jewellery for a Lady. The Daily Telegraph, [online]
15 Feb.
P.14. Col.1. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11411711/Daily-Telegraph-February-15-1915.html [Accessed: 15 February 2015].
Mann, J., 2015. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal
communication, 15 February 2015).
#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #ww1centenary
#worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered #WW1London
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