Captain Bruiny, a rare Steiff teddy bear, circa 1908, home dressed in 1st World War British uniform and provenance, with light golden mohair, black boot button eyes, pronounced muzzle with remains of black stitched nose and mouth, swivel head, jointed elongated limbs, hump and inoperative growler —14 ½in. (37cm.) high (worn, pads recovered with kid, face seams restitched, hole to tip of nose and some small moth holes to uniform) - Bruiny, was purchased from Bermondsey Antique Market in the 1970s, by one of the first British collectors of teddy bears, she was given the bears handwritten provenance on a postcard - ‘BRUINY (pronounced Broony) - Bruiny arrived at Christmas 1908 in Birmingham, He was transferred in 1915 to the border of Salisbury Plain and joined the Army. Using some rather questionable manoeuvres he was rapidly promoted to General. He had a Motor Bike & Sidecar with wheels made out of Golden Syrup tin lids. He has his driving licence, signed by my Father, in his right hand pocket. My cousin Edward, stationed at Bulford, made his sword out of a piece of yew and Cousin Cecile made his stylish baggy trousers. The rest of his outfit was made by myself with very limited resources. The was no cloth to turn in which (sic), although I was only eleven, I knew should have been done. He retired from the Active List in 1923 and has lived in happy retirement ever since. He enjoys occasional Reunions with his Contemporaries.’ - sadly at the time, no more names were noted, so tracking his original owner will be a tricky task, although the driving license is signed, probably by Bulright or Bullwright, amazingly he still retains this driving license, sword and pistol.