This Pattern 1827 Rifle Officer's sword is by Wilkinson and was sold in 1878. When new this sword was a Pattern 1854 Infantry Officer's Sword and would have had a gilt steel or brass "Gothic" hilt. At some point in the sword's lifetime (likely the 1890s, possibly the early 1900s) the P1854 hilt was re-hilted with a German Silver P1827 Rifle Officer's Sword hilt by Fenton Brothers of Sheffield. The brown leather field service scabbard was probably purchased around the same time the sword was re-hilted. The sword likely began life with a steel service scabbard.
According to the Wilkinson sales ledger, this sword was sold to D.S. Stewart. Colonel Dudley Strathearn Stewart CB was the son of Deputy Surgeon General L.W. Stewart, of Madras. He was commissioned into the 1st (Royal) Regiment of Foot as a second lieutenant on 11 May, 1878, and quickly transferred to the 5th (Northumberland Fusiliers) Regiment of Foot on 23 July, 1878. He advanced at a fairly steady pace, becoming lieutenant 1 January, 1881; captain 27 January, 1886. In 1888 the 2/Northumberland Fusiliers participated in the Black Mountain Expedition, which would likely have been Stewart's first taste of action. In 1893 Stewart was appointed adjutant of the 1st (Renfrewshire) Volunteer Battalion of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. It may have been during his tenure as adjutant that Stewart chose to have his sword re-hilted with a P1827 hilt. In Volunteer Memories, William Lamont writes of Stewart:
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In 1893 Captain Dudley Strathearn Stewart of the Northumberland Fusiliers was appointed adjutant of the battalion and a most efficient and popular one he proved to be. When he rejoined his regiment at the expiry of his tour of duty, the battalion followed his career with interest in South Africa, and were delighted when he emerged from that eventful campaign scathless, in command of his regiment the Fighting Fifth, with the decoration of a Companion of the Bath conferred on him by His Majesty. |
Stewart reached the rank of major 23 September, 1896. A few short years later Stewart was off to South Africa where he was quite a busy man:
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S. African War, 1899-1902 - In commd., 2 Bn, North'd Fus. from 9 feb
to 8 Apr 00. Operations in the Orange Free State, Feb to May 00. Operations in Orange River Colony, May to Nov 00. Operations in Cape Colony, south of Orange River, 99-00. In commd., 1 Bn, North'd Fus. 23 Nov 01 to 31 May 02. operations in the Transvaal, 30 Nov 00 to Jan 02. Operations in Orange River Colony, Jan 02. operations in Cape Colony, Feb to 31 May 02. Commdt., Veereeniging [where the Boers finally accepted British sovereignty] from 28 Jul 00. Despatches, Lond. Gaz., 10 Sep 01. Brev. Of Lt.Col. Queen's Medal with 3 clasps. King's Medal with 3 clasps. C.B. |
I assume that Stewart became a lieutenant-colonel at some point during the Boer War. Stewart retired from the in 1909, but returned to the Northumberland Fusiliers in 1914 as commanding officer of the 10th Battalion until 1916, and appears to have retired (again!) in 1920.
I will include the Wilkinson ledger entry for this sword as well as a copy of Stewart's WWI MIC.
$750 US plus shipping ($30 CONUS, $50 to the UK). PayPal accepted and preferred (please add 3% to cover fees). Other methods of payment will be considered. Please PM with any questions.
Jonathan