Now that I have one, I thought I'd add it to this thread...
At some point in the summer of this year I came across a sword I had to have. I sold a number of swords and bayonets to raise funds to make the purchase. Along the way I was presented with the opportunity to buy a fantastic
Pattern 1897 Infantry Officer's Sword with Patent Hilt by Wilkinson. Soon thereafter, two swords that looked to be bargains found their way into my collection. Suddenly, my fund was depleted and I had not bought the sword I set out to buy.
After a few months later I decided to sell my “bargain” swords in order to acquire the sword I originally wanted. Now that all the logistics of selling, receiving payment shipping, waiting for approval, and placing my order, the sword is finally mine!
The sword is a British Pattern 1827 Rifle Officer's Sword by Wilkinson. The rifle volunteer movement was huge between 1860 and the end of the 19th century. Consequently, many rifle pattern swords were produced, and a very high percentage of those swords on the market today belonged to volunteer officers, and a relatively small proportion of these swords actually belonged to officers who saw active service in a regular army rifle regiment (e.g. the 60th [King's Royal Rifle Corps] or the Rifle Brigade [Prince Consort's Own]). My sword is one of the latter. :)
The sword is of standard form for a P1827. It has a steel "Gothic" hilt
with strung bugle badge, fish skin grip with silver wire, a steel scabbard, and standard
~32" blade, and what I believe to be the original sword knot.
The blade is in immaculate condition, and is simple in its decoration; Wilkinson label etched on ricasso with HW circular proof slug on the opposite side of the ricasso, scrolling foliage and VR cypher and a strung bugle. The spine of the blade is marked with the serial number and is etched with the
center of percussion marking, and the blade was sharpened for active service.
This Pattern 1827 was sold by Wilkinson on 10 July1866 to H.S. Marsham, Esq.. Henry Savill Marsham, born 19 January 1847, was the eldest son of Reverend Henry P. Marsham and Caroline Savill Onley of Rippon Hall, Hevingham, Norfolk. Marsham was educated at Eton, and on December 2nd, 1865, was commissioned by purchase as an ensign in the 60th. Marsham was promoted to lieutenant on 17 February1869, and in that same year became adjutant of the 1st Battalion.
While stationed with his battalion in Canada, the 60th was sent as part of Wolseley's expedition to confront Louis Riel and the Métis in 1870, during the Red River Rebellion, at the Red River Settlement in what is now the Canadian province of Manitoba. Marsham is one of a handful of officer to have earned the Canada General Service Medal with clasp for Red River.
On 2 March 1878 Marsham was promoted to captain, and a few short months later in October of the same year, he was off to Afghanistan with the 2/60th. Marsham remained in Afghanistan through November of 1880, where he took part in the advance on and occupation Kandahar and Khelat-i-Ghilzie, and was present in the engagements at Ahmed Khel and Urzu near Ghuznee; and accompanied Roberts in the march to Kandahar and was present at the battle of Kandahar. In October of 1880, Marsham served in the Marri expedition under Brigadier General MacGregor. His services in Afghanistan earned him a mention in dispatches, the Afghan War Medal with two clasps and the Kabul-Kandahar Bronze Star.
In January of 1881, shortly after completing his service in Afghanistan, Marsham embarked with his battalion for Natal, South Africa to serve against the Boers in the Transvaal.
Marsham was promoted to major on 20 December 1882, married Caroline Blake Humfrey in 1883, and retired from the army in 1888.
Marsham had an active post-Army career, and served as a Deputy-Lieutenant for the County of Norfolk, Lord of the Manor of Cats-cum-Cricketots, and patron of the livings of Stratton Strawless, Brampton, and Wramplingham. Marsham was a trustee of the Norwich & Norfolk Hospital, and was for forty years a magistrate, occupying for many years the chairmanship of the Aylsham Bench. He also continued his family legacy of observing
Indications of Spring He died, shortly after his 90th birthday, in April 1937.
References
Hart's Annual Army List (Various) --Lt.-Gen. H.G. Hart
A Regimental Chronicle and List of Officers of the 60th, Or the King's Royal Rifle Corps--Nesbit Willoughby Wallace
The Norfolk & Norwich Hospital, 1770 to 1900--Peter Eade
http://www.robertmarsham.co.uk
http://www.ancestry.co.uk
http://www.artfact.com
http://www.armsresearch.co.uk