1921 'Geddes Axe' Silver Pocket Watch, Military

A 1921 'Geddes Axe' silver pocket watch.

The watch has a Swiss stem-winding movement which is working nicely. The movement is signed with the name Terminus, this name was registered by Georges Favre-Jacot / Zenith in 1894 and although this particular movement is not signed, we believe there is a strong possibility of it being a Zenith piece. The movement is protected by an inner hinged cover.

The watch measures 50mm diameter excluding the winding stem and the loop. The case is silver and there are hallmarks inside the two case backs for Birmingham 1921 with a case maker's mark for Aaron Dennison of the Dennison Watch Case Company, a prolific manufacturer of cases for various watch manufacturers. The case is in good condition and the case back has an interesting inscription, 'Sgt Dr J Perrior, 3rd Bn, R Fusiliers, “Geddes Axe”, 1922.

In 1922 came the so-called “Geddes Axe”, when Prime Minister Lloyd George appointed a committee under Sir Edward Geddes to drastically reduce public expenditure, defence included. The upshot was that the army had to be reduced by 50,000 men. By now, with the commitments in Russia and Ireland finished, much of the Middle East handed over to the RAF, and India comparatively quiet, the moment appeared to have arrived when this could be done. It was the cavalry that suffered the worst with sixteen regiments being amalgamated, but the infantry had to take its share. The Royal Fusiliers, Worcesters, Middlesex, 60th Rifles and Rifle Brigade all lost their third and fourth battalions.

The watch glass is in good condition with just minor marks.

The white dial is in lovely condition with blued steel hands, a subsidiary seconds dial and an outer minute track.

The watch will be sent in a new presentation box.

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All of our watches are checked over before listing, and are also checked for accuracy which is usually within around +/- two to three minutes over 24 hours (unless otherwise stated), which is considered respectable for a vintage watch.

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