Webley Government retailed by Cogswell & Harrison, the Strand London and owned by 2nd Lieutenant Charles Frederick Heatly who died age 23 whilst serving with the 16th Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers attached to the 38th Division Sniping Company. He was mortally wounded near Armentieres on the 10th April during the Georgette offensive and taken to the large hospital centre at St Omer where he died of his wounds on the 17th April 1918.  He is buried at Longuenesse Souvenir Cemetery. His elder brother Henry had also been killed on the 22nd February 1915 at Croix-Barbee.

All British officers had to supply their own kit, including their revolver.  After Charles’ death his personal effects would have been returned to the family, including his revolver.

After the Russian revolution and fear of possibly the same happening in Britain due to the massive social changes brought about from the war. Many of the returned soldiers were disillusioned with what they had been through and why, especially after returning to no work these were men that had been used to living on the edge and making decisions, not only that they had brought back there trophies of war and knew how to use them. It was decided to implement the first Firearms Act in 1920. It is interesting that officers or families of officers did not need a firearm certificate as they were deemed to be trustworthy.  This is borne out with the certificate that I have with the revolver issued to Charles’ father, Henry Louis Heatly and issued in 1922 stating that a firearm certificate can be dispensed with as a trophy of the European War. I have seen, but do not have the certificate whereby NCO’s and others had to register their trophies.