Boxed presentation shaving set : Lieutenant Colonel W R Birdwood

Rectangular wooden veneer box fitted with a lock, with all edges reinforced with brass banding. A sterling silver presentation plaque is mounted on the lid, and reads 'Presented to LIEUT COLONEL W. R. BIRDWOOD By The Lord Mayor of Sheffield Ald. George Senior, J.P. Sep 30 1902'. The plaque is hallmarked with Sheffield marks, and the initials HG. The interior of the box is fitted out with a blue felt lining with leather holders. The lid contains a buttonhook in steel with a decorative ivory handle; and a steel corkscrew in two parts. There are a further four storage loops for items no longer with the case. The base contains an ivory handled 'Keen' razor strop with calf sharpening faces, stored in a black leather holder with the trade name gold embossed; a pair of George Butler & Co ivory handled steel straight razors with each blade decorated with a quote from Shakespeare's Love's Labour Lost ('Keen as is this razors edge invisible') and a portrait of Shakespeare; and an ivory cased bristle shaving brush. There is a small leather and ivory lidded container to the front right which is empty. The maker's name, impressed into a small ivory plate, is mounted adjacent to the latch.

Presented to then Lieutenant Colonel Birdwood upon his return from the Boer War in 1902. Birdwood had fought in the Boer War between 1899 and 1902. Birdwood was severely wounded during his service, and mentioned in despatches five times. He was promoted to major in 1900 and was Military Secretary to Lord Kitchener, the Commander-in-Chief, South Africa in 1902. This shaving set was presented just after he had attained the rank of lieutenant colonel.