1) The blade is not the regulation 1892 pattern thrusting blade designed by Colonel Fox, nor the earlier type of fullered cut and thrust sabre blade designed by Henry Wilkinson. It is instead a type of blade which Wilkinson had been producing to special order since the 1840s and which the Wilkinson records called the ‘flat solid’. This is similar in outline to the 1845 Wilkinson pattern blade, but with a totally different cross-section, having no fuller and being a shallow triangle or wedge-section. This gives better cutting performance, with edge geometry improved by the more narrow angle and consequently less friction passing through a target. It comes, arguably, at the expense of rigidity and durability.

Whereas Colonel Fox had overseen the development of the almost purely thrusting blade of 1892 (as featured on the 1895 and 1897 pattern infantry officers’ swords), accompanied by Ferdinand Masiello’s Infantry Sword Exercise of 1895, Fox’s opponents Hutton and Matthey argued for a robust cut and thrust blade, together with a more rough and tumble style of fighting training, which foreshadowed some of the combative training methods of the Edwardian and WW1 era.

Fox and Hutton’s conflict would later culminate in their failed attempts at collaboration to design the next British cavalry sword. Fox eventually won, with his 1908 pattern design, but earlier prototypes show that Hutton had preferred to retain a compromise cut and thrust design. 

Brodhurst's sword is a particularly big and beefy cut and thrust blade, with an extra strong hilt construction, which makes sense when we consider the identity of the officer and his regiment. The Ghurkhas were often on the frontline of keeping the Northern borders of the Empire secure and the officer himself was a product of India.

While the original scabbard or scabbards for this sword have been lost, it was probably originally equipped with a plated steel scabbard for parade and a wood-lined and leather-covered field service scabbard for wearing with a Sam Browne belt. The leather of both scabbard and belt should have been black for Rifles. Either scabbard would have looked quite wide, due to the proportions of the blade. There would also originally have been a black leather sword knot attached to the guard.

He went to school at Clifton College and graduated as an Army officer through the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. He was in the cricket 11 at both these establishments and was also in the MCC. He played cricket for Hampshire on one occasion and was a right-handed bowler.

Brodhurst first saw active service with the 4th Gurkha Rifles in the Waziristan Expedition of 1894-95, receiving the associated medal and clasp. 

The British and Indian Army were invited to establish a military camp at Wana in Waziristan, as there was an active petition by the Ahmadzai tribal group to become part of the British Empire. This camp was established, however other tribal groups, primarily religious elements of the Mahsud, were completely opposed to this.

The war erupted at 5.30am in the pitch black, on 3 November 1894, when around 2000 Mahsud tribesmen, led by a determined religious leader called Mullah Powindah, launched a surprise assault on the camp at Wana, which itself was manned by around 2500 soldiers. 

Gradually the 1st Gurkhas reformed and started bringing their firepower to bear on the attackers, with the rest of the camp finally deploying and coming to assist. With the artillery then coming into action also, the attackers retreated and the attack was over 30 minutes after it had started. 

The 1st Punjab Cavalry (with 62 men) and Indian infantry sallied out from the camp to pursue the retreating enemy, the cavalry managing to cut down around 50 of them before they were fully dispersed into the countryside. The British Indian forces lost 23 soldiers killed, 43 soldiers wounded, with a further 43 camp staff killed and wounded in the attack on Wana camp.

This was a major blow to British and Indian Army reputation and prestige in the area. In response, a punitive Waziristan Field Force of around 8000 men was put together to out carry reprisals against Mahsud territories.. 

Part of this WFF was the Border Regiment, in which Brodhurst had initially served, though by the time of the campaign Brodhurst had already been gazetted to the 4th Gurkha Rifles, receiving his commission to Lieutenant around the time of the campaign. The 4th took part in the expedition alongside the 1st Gurkhas, who had taken the brunt of the attack at Wana.

For further detail about this campaign, I highly recommend reading here.

It seems quite likely that Brodhurst's experiences in Waziristan were the inspiration for his ordering of this new and special sword. Despite the commonly-held view by firearms enthusiasts, close combat was a feature of this sort of campaigning and in the descriptive accounts swords, lances and bayonets were clearly put to use. Given the attack on Wana and comparable events, it is quite easy to understand why a young officer would want the best set of weapons they could afford.

Events in Afghanistan were soon to prove that swords like this were a good investment, as in July 1897 (one month after the sword was purchased), the Malakand Uprising occurred. 

The 4th Gurkha Rifles found themselves called to arms again, with the commencement of the Relief of Chitral in 1895 and the Tirah Campaign, also known as the Tirah Expedition, in 1897-98. Though I cannot find a record of Brodhurst having served on either of these campaigns. Nevertheless, this context of continuous small wars helps to put his service and his sword in the correct light.

Assuming Brodhurst did not serve on the Tirah Campaign with his regiment before this, then this would have been the first time his new sword was sharpened and taken on active service.

In any event, it is usually the job of soldiers to not ask why, but to do and die. The Boxer Rebellion in some ways was a culmination for 19th century colonialism and the cementing of the 20th century Superpowers. But it also foreshadowed some of the horror to come just over a decade later in WW1, when the powers of the Eight Nation Alliance would find themselves pitted against each other.

During this battle, British and Commonwealth, particularly Indian, troops managed to smash through German lines, taking ground and prisoners. This was partly achieved thanks to the efforts of the Royal Flying Corps, who had for weeks previously gained air superiority over the area and this in turn led to greater mapping and recconnaisance of the front.

However, the attack was not exploited effectively and casualties were high. It proved to be a useful lesson for future operations at least, though it has been noted that the heavy artillery barrage that the Germans came under from British forces in particular, led them to create more effective fortifications soon after as a result.

Researching this sword and the officer who ordered it reminds us that only 100 years ago people were fighting and dying with these things that we collect.

Whatever our modern view of the politics of those times, these were people who believed in duty and their cause, and they committed their lives to that belief. Their bravery to me is awe-inspiring and moving. The graphic period accounts are far from the modern Hollywood view of war and serve as a reminder of how lucky we are, who live in peace.

While most areas under Western-control saw mechanized and long-range warfare by 1897, the areas where the Gurkha Rifles were campaigning and policing in India and the North-West Frontier still saw close combat at this time, where the kukri and sword were still important weapons of attack and defence. This is the historical context in which this sword sits, if not really in the poison gas, machine gun bullet and shrapnel-laden air of Ypres.

This sword is an extraordinary piece for an extraordinary man, who presumable expected to need a reliable and effective sidearm in Waziristan, Afghanistan, India or China. Brodhurst obviously had strong views about sword design and committed those to manufacture. 

The Gurkhas are rightly famous and their fighting spirit now near legendary. They still serve in both British and Indian Armies around the World. Major Brodhurst of the Gurkha Rifles died aged 41 without wife or children, alongside his Nepalese, Indian and British Commonwealth comrades, but he will be remembered.