17th Lancers Heavy Cavalry Officers Sword By Wilkinson

The 17th Lancers Heavy Cavalry Officers Sword of Josiah Sherlock Marrington Arthur Haigh Lyne-Evans MC.

An excellent biography of Lieutenant Colonel Lyne-Evans military career, including an image of him in uniform, can be found HERE courtsey of the QORC Museum.

Lyne-Evans was appointed as a Second Lieutenant with the 12th Lancers direct from RMC Sandhurst on the 18th January 1902. He must have known this was a temporary measure, as his sword bears the regimental crest of the 17th Lancers. He served with the 17th until 1912, before transfering to the Royal Canadian Regiment. 

From here he served with the 3rd Canadian Battalion as adjutant, landing in France with them in Febuary 1915. By May he was evacuated with shell shock, although he must have made an impact, being awarded an MID in June 1915, and the Military Cross later the same month, which must make it one of the first MC's awarded.

(The linked source above, states that although the award of the MC carries no citation, Lyne-Evans is recorded as"as having gone out into no man’s land with a volunteer to rescue Captain Muntz. during the battle of Festubert.")

By August 1915 he has recovered enough to be appointed as a general staff officer, and appointed a Staff Captain in November. He is further promoted on the 1st of  July 1916 to Temporary Major, with the Canadian Expeditionary Force. He seems to have seen out the rest of the war serving with the Nova Scotia Regiment.

The sword itself was produced by Wilkinson of Pall Mall in 1902 and fitted with the desirable Patent Tang.

Regulation heavy cavalry officers hilt in good bright condition, with some loss to the original plated finish. Fully chequered pommel and backpiece. The finely chequered Gutta Percha grips in very good order, and bound with silver twistwire.

The 35.5 inch, single fullered blade marked "By Warrant, Patent Solid Hilt, Wilkinson Sword, Pall Mall, London" to the ricasso, and with thier "HW" proof slug to the other.  The original owners family crest and interlocking initials are also present within a bordered panel, along with the usual floral etching with crowned ERVII cypher.

The other side of the blade is decorated with the regimental badge of skull and crossed bones surmounting the crossed lances of the 17th Duke of Cambridges Lancers. This also features the regimental "Or Glory" within a banner. Above this is the royal coat of arms, The blade clean and bright, good clear etching, with some very light staining along both sides of the blade. 

Housed in its original steel dress scabbard with twin hanging rings. This looks to have suffered the classic cavalryman's folly of being crushed/bent whilst empty. However, it shows signs of contemporay repair, and the sword fits perfectly. 

A fine and completely untouched example, fresh to the market. It will require some light cleaning to bring it back to a good collectors standard, and with the opporunity for further research.

Supplied with a digital copy of the Wilkinson Ledger page, confirming the original owner.

Strictly over 18's only. Photo ID will be required before this item can be dispatched.