RAF Wing Commander Wellesley FitzRoy Somerset Tunic

An exceptional, WWII Royal Air Force Officer's Service Dress tunic, tailored by the prestigious London firm Gieves Ltd and clearly dated 1943 on the original tailor's label inside the inner pocket. The label is officially named to Wellesley FitzRoy Somerset.

The tunic is a beautiful, 100% original wartime production. It retains its original Wing Commander rank braid on the cuffs (three rings, proving his wartime promotion from his earlier rank of Squadron Leader). It features all original King's Crown RAF brass buttons, and the correct officer's waist belt with brass buckle. The fabric is in very good, solid condition with a wonderful untouched period patina and only minor, light signs of age and service wear. Note: The pilot wings have been replaced with a high-quality reproduction during its post-war life, which can be easily removed or replaced. Priced accordingly. Analysis of the Ribbon Bars & Rare Clasp Emblem:
Adorning the upper left breast is his original, period-attached medal ribbon bar, which beautifully illustrates his transition from WWI trench warfare to a high-ranking WWII RAF commander:

• The Rare 1914 Star with Clasp Rosette (First Left): The first baton on the left represents the highly prestigious 1914 Star (Mons Star), awarded only to the original British Expeditionary Force who deployed in the opening months of WWI. Crucially, the ribbon features its original silver rosette pin addition. This official metal emblem denotes the entitlement to the "5th August - 22nd November 1914" Clasp, proving that the officer was under active enemy fire at the frontlines during the outbreak of the Great War.
• Subsequent Medals: The bar is completed by his WWI British War Medal and Victory Medal ribbons, alongside his WWII Defence Medal and War Medal ribbons, representing a lifetime of distinguished crown service.

The Man Behind the Uniform: Wing Commander W.F. Somerset
Wellesley FitzRoy Somerset (RAF VR Service Number: 73887) had a highly distinguished and long-standing military career spanning both World Wars:
• World War I: He initially served as a professional combat officer with the famous Welch Regiment. In September 1914, while holding the rank of Captain, he was severely wounded by shrapnel during the incredibly bloody fighting at the Battle of the Aisne in France, which he narrowly survived. He was later granted the rank of Major.
• World War II: Too old for the active trenches due to his prior wartime injuries, he answered the call to arms once again in WWII by joining the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Due to his immense leadership experience, he was promoted to the high rank of Wing Commander and acted as the vital Station Commander (Base Commander) at several strategic airfields along the East Coast of Britain, directing Allied bomber and fighter operations over Germany.

Archival Verification & Provenance (Spink Auction Reference)
The extraordinary military career of Wing Commander/Lieutenant-Colonel Somerset is officially documented and verified in the archives of the world-renowned British auction house Spink & Son (Lot 22102000264), where his original 1914 Star medal trio was recently sold for a premium. This independent historical record provides ironclad proof of his wartime service, promotions, and injuries. This wartime tunic is the ultimate companion piece to his medals, featuring an exact and perfect material match to his officially recorded RAF rank and his World War I ribbon bar.

Preeminent Aristocratic Provenance: Waterloo & The Duke of Wellington
What elevates this specific tunic into a class of its own is Wellesley's direct lineage to the absolute apex of British aristocratic and military history. The names Wellesley and FitzRoy represent an incredible, intertwined bloodline to the commanders who defeated Napoleon Bonaparte:

1. The Duke of Wellington & The Waterloo Bond (1815):
Wellesley's great-grandfather was Lord FitzRoy Somerset (later the 1st Baron Raglan). This man was the personal military secretary, right-hand man, and lifelong confidant of Arthur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington. They stood literally side-by-side on the battlefield of Waterloo when a French sniper bullet shattered Somerset's right arm, forcing an immediate amputation in the field hospital.

2. Bloodlines & Deep Political Alliances:
The bond between the Duke of Wellington and the Somerset family was not just professional, it was deeply personal and familial. In 1814, Lord FitzRoy Somerset married Emily Harriet Wellesley-Pole, the beloved niece of the Duke of Wellington. This historic marriage officially fused the two legendary dynasties together. Even after the Napoleonic Wars concluded, Wellington and Somerset continued their close alliance for decades in British politics and national defense — most notably when the Duke served as Master-General of the Ordnance and later as Prime Minister of Great Britain. The name Wellesley was given to subsequent generations as a supreme title of honor to commemorate this profound familial and military bond.

3. The Crimean War & Invention of the "Raglan Sleeve":
That same one-armed Waterloo veteran later became Field Marshal Lord Raglan and commanded the entire British Army during the Crimean War (1854) against the Russian Empire, where he infamously ordered the legendary Charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava. Because he missed his right arm and struggled with dressing, he commissioned his tailor to design a jacket where the sleeve extended fully in one piece to the collar to allow more movement. This design became globally famous as the "Raglan Sleeve" — meaning the grandfather of the man who wore this RAF uniform is literally the inventor of that iconic piece of clothing!

This tunic is not just a piece of WWII aviation cloth; it is a tangible, direct link to a legendary British military dynasty spanning from Waterloo to the Battle of Britain. A supreme, highly researchable investment piece that will form the absolute centerpiece of any high-end uniform collection or museum display.
Guaranteed 100% authentic and period original. Comes with a full historical research file.