Sergeant Henry William Meacham's sketchbook sold at auction

Henry William Meacham was born in Beccles in 1860 and enlisted at Great Yarmouth in the Norfolk Regiment in 1883 while he was a tailor.

After transferring to the King's Royal Rifle Corps in 1897 and serving in the second Boer War from December 1901 to June 1904, his rank became noted as Sergeant Master Tailor.

His role was to tailor and maintain uniforms for infantry battalions.

He was discharged from service in October 1905 but re-enlisted at the outbreak of the First World War.

One example of the detail that would go into the Sergeants drawings (Image: Supplied by Hansons Auctioneers)

And now the military tailor's 129-year-old sketchbook, containing unique illustrations of infantry uniforms, has been sold at auction and is set for public display at London’s National Army Museum.

The sketchbook, which is known as a pattern book, is from 1895 and was found in a family home in Derby.

The book contains meticulously hand-illustrated patterns and measurements for British military clothing, such as mounted infantry breeches, spats and vests.

A drawing of an officers mess jacket (Image: Supplied by Hansons Auctioneers)

It also shows medal ribbons from Victorian military campaigns, designs for groom and coachman frockcoats and civilian clothing.

Striking drawings include summer 1895 fashion for men, a Victorian lady on a bicycle, dogs, horses, birds, fish, flags and a pair of tailor’s scissors.

One example of his illustrations that was included (Image: Supplied by Hansons Auctioneers)

After being discharged from service for the final time, Mr Meacham was awarded a Silver War Badge in 1920, which remained his only medal from the era.

He died in Norfolk in 1938, aged 78.

The second Boer War saw a turning point for the British soldier’s uniform, with a move to now-familiar khaki.

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Infantry overcoat design by Sgt Meacham (Image: Supplied by Hansons Auctioneers)

His work sold for £4,600, more than double the album’s £1,500-£2,000 estimate.

In a statement his family said: “It seemed a shame to keep it hidden away. We’re so pleased it’s going to the National Army Museum.”

It was sold by Hansons Auctioneers.

Hansons’ head of militaria Matt Crowson said: “It was an amazing one-off find.  I’ve never seen anything like it.

"It brims with page after page of fascinating illustrations, many hand-coloured, showcasing a bygone age.

He would also draw women's clothing alongside the military garments (Image: Supplied by Hansons Auctioneers)

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“To serve your country from your early 20s through to your 50s tells us much about Sgt Meacham’s character. His pattern book also shows us another aspect of war - the involvement of master tailors in the creation of uniforms.”

One of his designs for the infantry battalions (Image: Supplied by Hansons Auctioneers)