BRITISH VICTORIAN 1854 PATTERN INFANTRY RIFLES SWORD TO THE ESSEX RIFLES-BOER WAR ERA
HISTORY
This 1854 pattern sword is known as the Gothic Hilt Sword and was introduced in 1854. The Crimea war started in October that year and many were used in that war, however this example is engraved on the blade to the Essex Regiment also known as the Essex Rifles which were formed from the 44th and 56th regiments of foot in 1881.
Boer War-The Essex Regiment served in the Boer War where the regiment participated in the Releif of Kimberley and the Battle of Pardeberg.
WW1- 2nd Battalion was in England at the outbreak of the First World War (1914-18). It served on the EWestern front from August 1914 until the Armistice.1st Battalion hurriedly returned to Britain from South Africa in 1914 and joined with other returning garrison units to form 29th Division. This was sent to Gallipoli in March 1915. It moved to the Western Front in 1916, remaining there for the rest of the conflict. The regiment also raised another 28 Territorial, Reserve and New Army battalions during the conflict. These served at home stations, in France and Flanders, Gallipoli and the Middle East.
Inter War- At the end of the war, 2nd Battalion was sent to India. It served as occupation troops in Istanbul en route. 1st Battalion served in Ireland for three years during the Irish War of Independence (1919-21), proving particularly effective in capturing the Irish Republican Army leaders. Its intelligence officer at the time, Major Arthur Percival, later became notorious for his defeat at Singapore in 1942.1st Battalion began 14 years in Britain in 1922. This was briefly interrupted in 1934, when it was sent to join the International Force overseeing the Saar’s referendum on rejoining Germany. In 1936, both regular battalions were on the move again, 1st Battalion to Palestine and 2nd Battalion back to Britain from India.
WW2-
2nd Battalion served in France in 1939-40, before being evacuated from Dunkirk (1940). It then remained in Britain until 6 June 1944, when it landed on Gold Beach in Normandy. It went on to fight in the North West Europe campaign, where it was joined by the 5th Battalion, recently formed by merging the Territorial 1/5th and 2/5th Battalions. 1st Battalion’s Second World War service was more varied. It was posted first to Abyssinia (1940), before joining the invasion of Syria (1941). It laterjoined the Burma Campaign, fighting with the Chindits. The Territorial 1/4th Battalion also saw extensive war service. This included the Second Battle of El Alamein and action in the Italian campaign, before being sent to Greece in 1945.
ITEM DESCRIPTION
This sword dates from the Boer war period, the blade is highly etched with a foliate design and bears the Queen victoria Crown under a star burst to one side and the"ESSEX RIFLES" to the other side. The officers who owned it has his initials "PB" etched into the blade. The blade is bright but does show spotting towards the tip due to its age and use. There is a makers mark to one side of the Langet but is difficult to read, There is a brass proof stamp on the other side of the langet. The Ray Skin handle is complete with a few small blemishes but no damage at all. The scabbard is complete with a small dent (these were purposely made to stop the sword rattling in the scabbard) which does not detract. The tip of the scabbard has been purposely cut of so that moisture does not collect at the end of the scabbard showing field use.
All in all this is a good 1854 pattern sword that comes from a famous British Regiment that had fought hard through The Boer War, WW1 and WW2. Further research could be done on the Officers initials on the blade which would enhance the provenance but this takes time that I do not have.