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This sword is engraved at the forte 'R.C. HART 1896', together with the maker's details, Thurkle of London. Gen. Hart (born 1848) was awarded the VC in the Afghan War (1879) for running 1,200 yards exposed to fire on both flanks to save a wounded Sowar, when he drove off the enemy and brought him under cover with the aid of some soldiers. He served as Lt. Gov. and GOC in Guernsey 1914-18. Attributable swords to VC winners are quite hard to find and even rarer perhaps are General Officer's mamalukes to such officers. (Full details from the VC Register and Cheltenham College Register are available.) He was a Royal Engineer regular soldier all his life. This fine sword, with elephant ivory grips (very good condition), is complete with its red and gold bullion sword knot. The brass scabbard has some wear and tear and a few dents. The blade has obviously suffered at some time, been cleaned off and then electro-plated with a silver finish. It would originally have had an acid/frost-etched finish on polished steel. The gilding has been completely polished off the crossguard. The picture of Captain Hart comes from Shadbolt's 'Afghan War 1879'. A visitor to my site has informed me of 'a fascinating biography of Gen. Hart's nephew (also a general - all the family seemed to be generals, including an earlier one who edited Hart's Army List). The book is "Sword and Blossom" (by Peter Pagnamenta and Momoko Williams, Penguin Press, ISBN 1 59420 089 0, available from Amazon) and has some family photos, including one of Sir Reginald with his nephew in 1919, in which Sir Reginald is wearing an 1831 pattern [sword] - this one? ... it's really a story of cousin [nephew?] Arthur Hart-Synot's doomed affair with a Japanese woman. It does, however, contain a fair amount of family and military history. I found it compelling reading.' |
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