A Very Good British 1912 Pattern WW1 Cavalry Officers Sword, Made by Fentons, Makers to the War Ofice

With FS scabbard, typical regulation large bowl guard fully scroll engraved and nickel plated. Average wear throughout the hilt. Fully etched blade with King George Vth cypher. The 1908 Pattern Cavalry Trooper's Sword was the last service sword issued to the cavalry of the British Army. It is widely considered the most effective cavalry sword ever designed, although ironically its introduction occurred as swords finally became obsolete as military weapons. The 1912 Pattern Cavalry Sword was introduced for officers, who had previously carried privately purchased non-regulation swords. The 1912 Pattern Sword was essentially the same look as the 1908 trooper’s Pattern but featured more hilt decoration. The trooper’s version also had a hardened rubber grip, the officer's wire bound sharkskin. It is mounted in its original field service leather covered combat scabbard.

For example, as used by an officer in such as the 9th lancers.

The 9th Lancers regiment landed in France as part of the 2nd Cavalry Brigade in the 1st Cavalry Division in August 1914 for service on the Western Front. Captain Francis Grenfell was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions in saving the guns of 119th Battery, Royal Field Artillery on 24 August 1914 (he was later killed in action on 24 May 1915, as was his twin brother, Riversdale, a yeomanry officer who attached to 9th Lancers). The regiment then participated in the final "lance on lance" action involving British cavalry of the First World War; on 7 September 1914 at Montcel à Frétoy in which Lieutenant Colonel David Campbell led a charge of two troops of B Squadron and overthrew a squadron of the Prussian Dragoons of the Guard

Apparently owned commissioned and used in WW1 by Joseph McElhaw M.C. but we haven't had any time to do any follow up detailed research at all on his career. He was supposedly a dentist after the war. the research we have completed is as follows; Lieutenant McElhaw was born in Dumbarton and started off in the Inns of Court Officers Training Corp, he then joined the Queen's Own Royal Glasgow Yeomanry (Dragoons), from where he was seconded for duty with the Machine Gun Corps. It was here, whilst serving as a Second Lieutenant, that he won the Military Cross "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He was in command of two machine guns when a shell scattered the whole party, inflicting severe losses. He reorganised his men and reached his appointed position. He repulsed several counter-attacks, and remained until his entire section had become casualties". He was also awarded the Croix de Guerre with Star, and served as a Special Constable during WW2. In later life he's listed as a retired Dental Surgeon living in Swindon. The details of his name etc. came direct from his family from whom we acquired the sword. The sword bears no name or monogram of the original owner.

It arrived yesterday in a very sorry state, but it has spent two full days in the workshop being fully hand cleaned and hand polished to return it back to almost how it looked when it was made. There is remaining some wear spotting to the original plating on the basket hilt. The blade however has polished back to almost as good as new. The interior of the bowl guard was left as is.

34 3/4 inch long blade

Code: 24898