1821 Pattern Light Cavalry Sword Of The 14th Light Dragoons By Woolley, Sargant & Fairfax

SALE PENDING

EL6169 - A rare regimentally-marked and early 1821 pattern 14th Light Dragoons trooper's sword. Made by Woolley, Sargant & Fairfax, this dates the sword to 1826-1834. The sword is marked to D Troop and Trooper/Armoury rack number 54, on both the underside of the quillon and the scabbard side.

The 14th Light Dragoons served in Ireland between April 1825 and March 1828 and were renamed in July 1830 as the 14th 'The King's' Regiment of Light Dragoons, to mark the coronation of William IV. They took part in the suppression of the Bristol riots in October 1831 and were dispatched to India in May 1841. The regiment marched from Kirkee in the west of the country to Ambala in the north of the country through the winter of 1845 during the First Anglo-Sikh War. The commanding officer of the regiment, Colonel William Havelock, led a charge, apparently without orders, at the Battle of Ramnagar in November 1848 during the Second Anglo-Sikh War. Havelock and his leading troopers were surrounded and cut down. After a further charge failed, Brigadier Charles Cureton, the commander of the cavalry division to which the troops belonged, galloped up and ordered a retreat. Cureton himself was then killed by musket fire. The regiment were routed at the Battle of Chillianwala in January 1849 but redeemed themselves at the Battle of Gujrat in February 1849. This sword was probably with the regiment throughout this whole period until being replaced by the 1853 pattern sword, though of course we will never know what action it may have seen.

This sword has therefore almost certainly had an interesting life, but remains in good condition. The blade is bright and in good shape, with clear stamps, including the maker to the spine and Birmingham proof approval to the fuller. The hilt is all firm on the tang and much of the leather remains to the grip. The leather washer is a replacement (it has no effect on the construction of the hilt and can be removed), but seats the sword in the scabbard correctly. The scabbard has the expected dents and wear, with some pitting, but the regimental marks are still quite clear. A great sword with really good provenance and research potential. These 1821 pattern light cavalry swords are getting rarer to find, especially in this condition and with regimental markings.