Antique & Militaria

**BRITISH COLONIAL CONNECTIONS**Large Silver Plated Brass 1930’s Vintage Dunhill Lift Arm Officer’s Mess Table Lighter (Patent 390107) Presented to Officers Of 1st Kings Own Border Regt By Commissioner Field Last Commissioner Southern Cameroons 1961. - 23507

J.O. Field was the last Colonial British Administrator of Southern Cameroons (an original portrait photo of the man is illustrated in image 1). He played a pivotal role during the final years of the British Trusteeship in the Southern Cameroons. As the Commissioner of the Southern Cameroons (1956–1961), he was the highest-ranking British official on the ground during one of the most volatile and transformative periods in West African history. He was also Special Representative at the United Nations: Because Southern Cameroons was a UN Trust Territory, Britain had to account for its administration to the UN Trusteeship Council. The 1st Battalion, The King's Own Royal Border Regiment was deployed to the Southern Cameroons in West Africa from September 1960 to May 1961. Their primary mission was to oversee elections and maintain peace during the transition to the new Independent State. Following the successful completion of the United Nations-backed elections in 1961, the battalion returned to Barnard Castle, England, in May 1961.The Vintage Dunhill Unique lift-arm lighter (Patent 390107) from the 1930’s is a rare and sought-after collectable item crafted from silver-plated brass. Patent Number 390107 belongs to the iconic Dunhill Unique lift-arm petrol lighter, which was produced primarily during the 1930s Art Deco era. The "lift-arm" design has a hinged arm which is lifted manually to uncover the wick before striking the horizontal flint wheel. These are liquid petrol / lighter fluid fuelled wick lighters. These large table / desk top lighters were manufactured decades before Dunhill switched to butane gas in 1956. Our example was presented in 1961 to the Officers of the 1st King’s Border Regiment by his honour J.O Field cmg Commissioner of the Southern Cameroons, no doubt for use in their Officers mess. The lighter measures 4” height x 3” width x just over 1” depth (with arm closed). The lighter has no damage, has original wick but is without flint and has not been tested. The base of the lighter has a turn off cover which allows access to the wick and fuel tank. The base of the lighter has the Dunhill brand name and patent detail together with ‘Made In England’.The arm of the lighter has cast ‘Dunhill’ panel and the casing is inscribed ‘PRESENTED TO THE OFFICERS OF 1 KINGS OWN BORDER REGIMENT BY HIS HONOUR J.O. FIELD CMG COMMISSIONER OF THE SOUTHERN CAMEROONS 1961’. The price for this interesting Officer’s Mess piece includes UK delivery. Sn 23507

£495.00