The Web’s effect can’t be overstated

Life requires balance. Too much of anything – including militaria – likely isn’t good for anyone, even as some of us might not like to admit it. There is more to life than just adding to the collection, a fact that has become increasingly clear to me as so many of my old friends are no longer here for me to share this passion. I’ve previously noted that at the large shows, I made sure to collect memories with my friends as much as to acquire new items.

In addition, I’ve also recently been critical of those who rely on the internet as the primary source of information – rather than having shelves filled with books.
These two seemingly unrelated topics took on new meaning to me earlier this year when I received news that my very good friend and colleague Stuart Bates had passed away. It was sudden and quite unexpected, even as he had some lingering health problems. It is a significant loss as Stuart and I worked together on three books on military headgear, along with countless articles on the subject. He was so much more than a close friend; he was a confidant who I could turn to when I wasn’t sure about an item or needed assistance with research.

What has surprised many of my other friends is that despite our nearly 20-year friendship, we sadly never actually met in person. Stuart lived in Australia and only on one occasion during our friendship had he left the country. Unfortunately, I was unable to meet up with him in Europe when he went on his extended holiday. Other plans to visit him were scuttled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Over the years we often exchanged emails many times a day when we worked on our books, while Skype allowed us to have “face to face” chats. The digital age allowed us to connect despite the physical distance.

These facts are important to note because just as I have argued that some collectors need to use more than Facebook as a platform for their research, and should look beyond eBay as a primary source for items to add to their collections, there are those in the hobby who care only to see the dark side of the Worldwide Web. I have heard more than a few collectors bemoan what Facebook has done for the hobby, with some suggesting it was even “destroying Western civilization.” There is no denying that social media has its share of problems – and I say this wearing my freelance reporter hat as one who covers all aspects of Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, Instagram, Telegram and platforms many readers may have never heard of. Social media can be a problem at times.

Yet, we shouldn’t dismiss the opportunities it has provided in bringing collectors from around the world together. As someone who was bitten by the collecting bug at a young age, thanks to my great-uncle buying me my first helmet way back in 1981, I am now old enough to remember a time when collectors had to communicate via first class USPS letters and the occasional long-distance phone call.
The Internet allowed me to befriend Stuart and countless others. In one of our final conversations before his passing, Stuart remarked that he was happy we had connected first via email when I reached out to him to
research an article for this publication on British Home Service helmets nearly 20 years ago. That sparked a friendship that led to Stuart joining online forums, and along the way, he made other friends throughout the world. We had become part of a small community of collectors who regularly now stay in touch despite being literally oceans apart.

I know I’m not alone in having made collector friends around the globe by connecting with them online. The hobby has grown so significantly thanks to the ability to type a few words on a computer or even a smartphone. The world of militaria isn’t alone in benefiting from this magic, but it is a hobby of a unique sort of people
that don’t really have a ton of opportunities to meet
up in person.

This is, of course, what makes large shows including the Show Of Shows (SOS) so very special. It may be where military history meets collecting, but it is also where internet friends can shake hands and share a meal together while also seeking new items for their respective collection. And based on the efforts of the Ohio Valley Military Society (OVMS) to promote its events online via Facebook, Instagram, and various forums, the gate at this year’s SOS was greater than ever. It provided me an opportunity to collect more of those precious memories with my friends and colleagues.

A collector of British and Australian headgear for more than 30 years, Stuart Bates wrote extensively on the subject of Victorian helmets and uniforms. His research has proven invaluable to the hobby. He was always ready and more than willing to aid new collectors and share his knowledge of tropical headdress and British military history, while being just a very friendly individual.

Stuart was born in England and lived until his passing in Australia. He will be missed by the collecting community and by his friends around the world. R.I.P. Stuart.