New Arrivals

[Jonathan Hopkins]

These just arrived today; two British Pattern 1821 Royal Artillery Officers' Swords. Both were made by Wilkinson, and both feature "Patent Solid Hilt" construction. The sword with the steel scabbard was made in 1893 and the sword with the leather field service scabbard was made in 1901. The earlier sword is quite a beast, but both are nice examples of fighting swords. I am working on write-ups on the originals owners of these swords, which I may post at a later date. These swords are in need of some gentle clean-up and TLC, a project I am eager to tackle when I find the time!

[Thomas Symmonds]

Great swords. I look forward to your write ups.

Thomas

[Guest Rick Research]

Could you also explain what the various proof disks in the star of David mean? I occasionally see such blades, and beyond the basic knowledge that it is a good sign of quality, don't know if they are all the same, or there were 3 or 17 different marks for a quality scale.

[Jonathan Hopkins]

Great swords. I look forward to your write ups.

Thomas

Thank you, Thomas! I will see what I can put together this weekend. :)

[Jonathan Hopkins]

Could you also explain what the various proof disks in the star of David mean? I occasionally see such blades, and beyond the basic knowledge that it is a good sign of quality, don't know if they are all the same, or there were 3 or 17 different marks for a quality scale.

Rick,

Those questions are somewhat answered here: http://forums.swordforum.com/showthread.php?t=87782

Basically, the symbol is two intertwined triangles. Apparently the triangle was thought to symbolize strength, so two triangles meant double strength. The proof slugs were introduced by Wilkinson, and were meant to show that the swords had passed their proof test. Other makers followed suit even if they did not subject their blades to testing. Various makers used different proof slugs, but from a distance they were indistinguishable from the Wilkinson slugs.

This thread might have some other useful info: http://forums.swordforum.com/showthread.php?t=85824

I hope that answers you questions!

Jonathan

[Mervyn Mitton]

Good buy , Jonathan - also good that you have the dress and the field scabbards. Is that an auction sticky label on the pigskin - why do they have to do this - it damages the leather.

[Jonathan Hopkins]

Mervyn,

Thank you. Steel scabbards were still used for field service in 1893, so this one was not just for the parade ground. However, the officer may have also owned a brown leather field service scabbard. I was very annoyed to see the sticker on the scabbard. I was able to remove it with minimal damage to the leather. Unfortunately the scabbard has seen its share of stickers, but the marks are not as visible after applying some Pecard Antique Leather Dressing.

Jonathan

[Jonathan Hopkins]

This is a Pattern 1821 Royal Artillery officer's sword by Henry Wilkinson, made in 1893, and featuring "Patent Solid Hilt" construction. The steel hilt and scabbard are brownish-black with age and old, stabilized rust, and what appears to be black paint on areas of the hilt. The blade is in good condition and is well etched with scrolling foliage, the devices of the royal artillery, and the original owner's monogram; ERP.

Ernest Robert Phillips was born 16 July, 1868. At age 17 he entered the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich and attained his commission as a 2nd lieutenant at age 19. As a young officer, Phillips served with several garrisons including Gibraltar with 3 Battery, Eastern Division and 26 Battery, Eastern Division, from 1890-1892, during which time he was promoted lieutenant (17 February, 1891. From 1892-1893 he served the Eastern Division?s 2nd Sub-Depot in Great Yarmouth, and again for a time he found himself back in Gibraltar. Before embarking for service in India, Phillips had some time to buy a new sword?a nice Pattern 1821 with Patent Solid Hilt.

From February of 1894-1895 Phillips was with Number 4 Company at Fort Saint George, Madras. In 1896 he was attached to Number 5 Mountain Battery, with whom he remained through 1900. In 1897 Phillips took command of No. 5 Mountain Battery which was with the Tirah expeditionary force during the campaign of 1897-98. For his service, Phillips was entitled to the India General Service medal with clasp ?Punjab Frontier 1897-98?, and 18 June, 1898 was promoted captain.

From October, 1900-1902 he served with Number 5 Company, Southern Division at Agra and Aden. Between 1902 and 1908 he served with the Devon Royal Garrison Artillery Militia, 1908 and 1911 he served with the 4 Wexxex Brigade, Royal Field Artillery Territorial Force, and 1911 and 1912 he was in command of the Somerset Royal Horse Artillery Territorial Force.

His promotions during his tenure with the militia and territorial forces are difficult to follow:

Gazette Issue 27600 published on the 25 September 1903:

ROYAL GARRISON ARTILLERY (MILITIA).

The Devon, Captain Ernest Robert Phillips,

Reserve of Officers (late Royal Garrison

Artillery), to be Captain. Dated 26th September,

1903.

Gazette Issue 28181 published on the 29 September 1908:

3rd Devonshire Battery, 4th Wessex Brigade;

Captain and Honorary Major (Captain, retired

pay, Reserve of Officers) Ernest Robert Phillips

(late The Devon Royal Garrison Artillery

(Militia) ), from the retired list, to be Major.

Dated 22nd July, 1908.

Gazette Issue 28503 published on the 13 June 1911:

ROYAL HORSE ARTILLERY.

Somerset Royal Horse Artillery; Major (Captain,

retired pay, Reserve of Officers) Ernest

Robert Phillips, from the 4th Wessex Brigade,

Royal Field Artillery, to be Major.

Dated 1st May, 1911.

In 1914 Phillips was re-employed with the RFA as commanded the 174th Brigade, RFA, 39th Division from 19 May, 1915 to 11 April, 1916. During this period he was made a temporary lieutenant-colonel (11 August, 1915), and went to France with his unit on 1 March 1916.

From A short history of the 39th (Deptford) Divisional Artillery 1915-1918 by H.W. Wiebkin:

Major E. R. Phillips, R.A., was gazetted to the command of the first Brigade formed--the 174th (Deptford) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. The disused Thames Ironworks, in Blackheath Road, were taken over as headquarters, and no little ingenuity was exercised in adapting them to the business in hand. Energy and good will once again overcame difficulties which might well have been thought insurmountable, and in a surprisingly short space of rime things were working smoothly.

"The Kentish Mercury" of June 11th, 1915, announced that the recruiting campaign in Deptford had been most successful, and that as a result two Gun Brigades--the 174th and the 179th--had been formed. "The men of the former" (the writer stated) " have already been supplied with uniform. It is hoped that the l79th will be clothed in the course of next week." This was only a fortnight after the date of the town's meeting, and a good deal of firmness and an even greater measure of persuasive power must have been exercised by the Mayor of Deptford in inducing clothing contractors to deliver uniforms when their factories were working at such high pressure. It was done, however, and the hope expressed as to the 179th Brigade was also fulfilled.

...and:

Lt.-Col. E. R. Phillips, 174th Brigade, left the Division on 11th of April, and was succeeded by Lt.-Col. J. G. B. Allardyce, R.F.A.

Apparently he was invalided out of service. Perhaps the rigors of the campaign were too much for him at age 48 or he could have been injured. I have not been successful in tracing his life after he left the Royal Artillery.

Sources:

A Short History of the 39th (Deptford) Divisional Artillery 1915-1918

List of Officers of the Royal Regiment of Artillery 1862-1914

Hart?s Annual Army List (various)

And thank you to Dick Flory of the Great War Forum for his tremendous help! (Any errors are, of course, my own.)

[Jonathan Hopkins]

This is the second of two Pattern 1821 Royal Artillery Officers' Swords I recently acquired. I am drawn to swords with provenance, and this sword is quite exciting in that regard--more on that below. In addition to the pleasure of researching the officer, this sword is also an excellent example of an officer's fighting sword. Made by Wilkinson, it features the "Patent Solid Hilt" which was favored by many officers who expected to see active service in some corner of the empire. It also has a long (still sharp!) cavalry length blade which bears standard etched decorations including scrolling foliage, the symbols of the Royal Artillery, Wilkinson's label and proof disc, etc., as well as the owner's initials--DRM--and his crest.

The sword is in good condition. The hilt is especially fine and the blade has some minor pitting. The scabbard has some sticker damage, but a dose of Pecard Antique Leather Dressing did an admirable job of making the damage less obvious.

Donald Ramsay Macdonald was born at Hollymouth, County Carlow on 4 February, 1884 to D.W. Macdonald, Esq. of Hallatrow Court, Somerset. He was educated at Harrow School from 1897-1901, and and at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. Interestingly, he bought his sword as a young cadet in 1901.

On 15 June, 1903, Macdonald was commisioned as a 2nd lieutenant in the Royal Field Artillery. From 1903 to 1907 he served with the 106th Battery, 22nd Brigade, RFA at Hilsea and Ewshott. He was promoted lieutenant on 15 July, 1906. Between 1907 and 1910 he served at Newbridge with the 143rd battery, 48th Brigade. Then in 1910 he was posted to the 48th Battery, 36th Brigade.

On 17 August, 1914, Macdonald embarked for France with the 48th Battery, and several months later he was mentioned in despatches in the (London Gazette, 19 October, 1914) and

promoted captain (30 October, 1914). In December, he moved to the 34th Brigade, and by January Macdonald again distinguished himself and was amongst the first to be awarded the Military Cross (London Gazette, 1 January, 1915).

On 3 July, 1916, Macdonald was promoted major. Also in that year he was posted to the 110th Brigade, RFA, and was wounded at Pozieres. He was again wounded at Langemaark in

1917. In July, 1918 he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order, and was again mentioned in despatches in December, 1918, for service with the 466th Battery, 65th Brigade, RFA.

His DSO citation in the London Gazette (Issue 30813 published on the 23 July 1918):

Maj. Donald Ramsay Macdonald, M.C.,

R.F.A.

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to

duty. On various occasions he was the last

to withdraw his battery, and his handling of

a sub-group placed under his command

enabled the infantry to prolong the defence

by many hours. His courage and skill were

admirable.

After the war, from 1919 to 1922, Macdonald was back home in Ireland as the officer commanding the 16th battery, 30th Brigade, RFA at Kildare. From 1923 to 1930 he served as officer in command of the 16th Battery, 7th Brigade, RFA at Kampee, Lucknow, and Borden. Macdonald retired in August, 1930 after nearly 30 years of distinguished service. He died 28 December, 1934 and is buried at Killeshin Graveyard, County Carlow, Ireland.

Photo from the Brennan Family History Website:

Major Macdonald's medals recently sold at auction, as did those of his two sons:

Donald Ramsay Macdonald

Lt. R.W. Macdonald, RN

Major J.R.S. Macdonald, Royal Fusiliers

Major Macdonald's WWI Medal Index Cards:

Sources:

Harrow School Register, 1845-1925

The Distinguished Order 1886-1923

List of Officers of the Royal Regiment of Artillery 1862-1914 Medal Roll for the 1914 Star

The 25th Division in France and Flanders

Hart's Annual Army List (various)

And again, a special thank you to Dick Flory of the Great War Forum, who provided the bulk of the information and was so kind to take his time to look into Major Macdonald.

[Thomas Symmonds]

Fantastic research Jonathan. Would it not be great to be able to reunite sword and medals? Would you ever consider that, (have you done something along those lines before)?

Do you do a little research before you decide to make a bid to purchase a sword, or is it perhaps the sword itself that might first attract you?

I look forward to more swords with stories.

regards,

Thomas

[Jonathan Hopkins]

Thomas,

Thank you for your kind reply. I would love to reunite his medals with his sword, in fact I'd like to be able to do that with all of my swords. Unfortunately that is not an undertaking I could afford!

I try to always do some research ahead before buying. I am a bit picky in that I like swords that belonged to officers who saw active service. I have bought three swords without doing my research first. I was lucky in that each one had a good story to tell, but it could have gone the other way and I could have ended up with swords with bland histories. Relatively speaking, of course.

Jonathan

[Thomas Symmonds]

Hello Jonathan.

I noted that you used "Pecard antique leather dressing" on the scabbard of one of your swords. I am keen to know how you go about cleaning and "preserving" your swords and scabbards. Product names and materials particularly. You come across as some one who takes a great deal of care, and has alot of pride in their pieces, so I know your advice here must be valuable.

regards

Thomas

[leigh kitchen]

What I love with these is all the research & background information, as with medals it adds so much more to an item