Description:This set of New Zealand Rifle Brigade cap badges, uniform badges and buttons are from the uniform belonging to Sgt. Reginald John Claude Jellie (1894-1995) who was a stationed at Brocton Camp on Cannock Chase during World War 1.
Born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Claude emigrated to New Zealand around 1911 to start a new life as a farmer. In 1916 he joined 4 Platoon 3rd NZRB and left for the Western Front. He was injured in the Battle of the Somme and was then stationed at Brocton Camp 1918-1919. Here, unlike many of his comrades-in-arms, he survived the Spanish flu outbreak and returned home to New Zealand.
Much later in life Claude returned to England to visit Cannock Chase and met local and military historian Jake Whitehouse in 1953. They became firm friends and Claude gave Jake his NZRB uniform badges and buttons. Claude Jellie died in Auckland in 1995 at the remarkable age of 101.