Captain Rogerson’s Campaign Chest

A wonderful one-piece painted pine campaign chest of diminutive proportions.

The campaign chest belonged to Captain Rogerson of the Cardigan Artillery.

The Cardigan Artillery regularly trained and camped at the Maker Battery, which was built to strengthen the defence of the Royal Naval Dockyard at Davenport, England.

Captain Edward Chesters Rogerson would have travelled to the South West of England and more notably to South Africa with his personal belongings safely locked within the case. The captain and honorary major was present during the South African Anglo-Boer War between 1899 and 1902. After the war, the captain returned to England where he continued in the army until his later retirement.

Written on the top of the case in white paint is ‘ Capt. E. Chesters Rogerson’ and beneath ‘Cardigan Artillery’.

With the original key still present, the case opens with two small doors on brass hinges. Once the ebonised case is opened, the chest displays three long draws with brass recessed handles along each side of the case.

Raised on four original turned bun feet that unscrew for transportation during periods of travel.

From Captain Rogerson’s rank, we are able to date the chest to around 1894.

It is very rare to find campaign furniture that has travelled and survived the horrors of war. Even more so to find a campaign chest with its original case and in such remarkable condition.

English, circa 1894.