Vintage Royal Marines Military Cap Tin – C. H. Jolley PLY/X 2162 – WWII Era

Vintage Royal Marines Military Cap Tin – C. H. Jolley PLY/X 2162 – WWII Era

A wonderfully evocative piece of British military history, this original black japanned metal cap tin belonged to C. H. Jolley of the Royal Marines, whose name and service number are engraved on the brass plate fitted to the lid:

PLY/X 2162

C. H. JOLLEY R.M.

Please note a % of the profit will go to Blesma. Blesma stands for British Limbless Ex-Service Men's Association. It is a national charity that supports serving and ex-service men and women who have suffered limb loss, loss of the use of limbs, or loss of an eye or sight while serving in the British Armed Forces. Blesma's mission is to help these veterans lead independent and fulfilling lives, offering support in their communities throughout the UK.

The PLY prefix relates to the Plymouth Division of the Royal Marines, while the four-digit PLY/X service number is consistent with a regular-service Royal Marine of the late 1930s/Second World War period.

Dating from approximately the late 1930s to 1940s, the tin would have been used to protect and transport a Royal Marines service or forage cap. It is made from sturdy sheet metal with a black japanned finish and has a striking blue-painted interior.

One of the nicest surviving details is the original-style brass padlock, which is accompanied by its key. Combined with the engraved owner's plate, this gives the tin far more character and provenance than an anonymous military storage box.

The exterior has clearly lived a life. There are numerous scratches, scuffs, areas of paint loss, surface marks and general wear throughout, particularly across the lid and base. Rather than detracting from it, this heavy service wear gives the piece exactly the sort of authentic appearance we like to see in genuine military equipment. The blue-painted interior also shows age-related marks and wear.

The identity of C. H. Jolley has not been conclusively established beyond the information on the original brass plate, so no claims are made regarding specific ships, campaigns or wartime actions.

A fabulous piece for a collector of Royal Marines memorabilia, WWII militaria, military clothing and equipment, named service items or British social history, and equally appealing as a characterful display or storage piece.

Approximate dimensions:

28 cm diameter

15 cm deep

Condition:

Vintage military condition with substantial age and service-related wear, including scratches, scuffs, surface marks and losses to the black finish. Further wear and marks are present internally. Please study the photographs carefully as they form an important part of the description.

Why we love it:

The engraved Royal Marines service number is what makes this one special. It isn't simply an old hat tin — it is a named piece of personal military equipment that once belonged to an identifiable Royal Marine, with the scratches and knocks of its working life still very much visible.

All of our vintage and antique items are described to the best of our knowledge. Age-related wear is part of their history and character, and photographs form part of the description.