In good condition, the early 19C RN officer’s sword of Lieut Nigel St J S Nicoll-Carne (suicide 1911).
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A very nice Gieves Royal Navy officer’s sword, former property of one very unhappy Lieutenant Nigel St John Stradling Nicoll-Carne who comitted suicide in 1911.
This from the Western Morning News, Monday 20 November 1911
IVYBRIDGE – Naval Officer’s Suicide. Evidence At Inquest: Deceased’s Last Letter. – The Inquest on the body of LIEUT. NIGEL ST. J. S. NICHOLL-CARNE, who was found shot dead in Ivybridge Woods on Friday, was held at Ivybridge on Saturday. Mr K. Eyton Peck represented the Admiralty and the Inquiry was conducted by the Coroner (Mr R. Robinson Rodd). – Me E. R. Stephens, manager of the Naval Bank, Ivybridge, deposed to discovering the body in Ivybridge Woods on Friday morning. The man was lying on his left side, with his face upturned. It was about a hundred yards below Hunters Path, close to the footpath. Witness did not see the revolver in the hand of the deceased. – Commander Hugh Edwards, R.N. Barracks, Devonport, identified the body as that of LIEUT. NIGEL ST JOHN STRADLING NICHOLL-CARNE. He had known the deceased for twelve months and on Wednesday he appeared in a normal state. He was a cheerful, well-balanced fellow, although he had noticed he had not been quite himself for a few days. The deceased sent a letter to Lieut. Toms, which read:- “Dear old Toms, – You seem rather fond of Joe, so will you take him as a parting gift? – I am finished, and have been for the last year. Only I think I managed to appear fairly cheerful and bluff it out. Give my love to Budgen. If you don’t want Joe, perhaps No. 2 might like him. Mickey Wheelan can have my golf clubs.” – Witness explained that “Joe” was a bulldog. – The Coroner: Beyond what he refers to, you know nothing to cause the deceased to have taken his life? – I know nothing at all, either from a service point of view, or, as far as I know, from a monetary point of view. – You would know? – Any service trouble I should be bound to know. – Continuing, witness said deceased went on leave on Wednesday, and should have returned on Thursday morning. It was his day’s duty. He heard the deceased was not feeling well, so he waited until Friday noon before reporting the matter. Deceased hailed from South Wales and they had telegraphed to find out the address of the next-of-kind from the Admiralty. he had a mother living and one or two brothers. He was a good officer and a great sportsman, a man very well liked and very popular in the Barracks. – In reply to a question, the Coroner stated that the letter was posted on 17th, so the deceased must have come to Ivybridge by the early train on the day he committed the act. – Assistant Paymaster J. H. Budgen, of the R.N. Barracks, stated that he met the deceased on Wednesday evening and he looked depressed. For a whole week he had been complaining of a heavy cold and headache. When witness heard that deceased was missing, he was not surprised at learning what had happened. Deceased was certainly not compos mentis on Wednesday. His mind was unhinged about something. – Dr Cooper stated that deceased was shot through the heart, the bullet burying itself in the neck. – P.C. Pile deposed to finding the body in the woods. He was laying on his side, with a revolver in his right hand, his finger still on the trigger. There was one expended cartridge in the revolver, and 40 live cartridges in his possession. – The Coroner: It looks as if he went straight to the spot and shot himself. – Witness: It looked as if he sat on the bank and did it and then toppled over. – The Coroner, summing up, said that in that particularly painful and sad case they would see from the evidence that deceased had something weighing on his mind which caused him to be temporarily insane. – The Jury returned a verdict of “Suicide during Temporary Insanity.” – After the Inquest the body was removed to the R.N. Hospital, whence it is to be conveyed by train this morning for private interment. – The deceased officer belonged to a well-known Glamorgan family. The family lived at St. Donat’s Castle until after the death of DR NICHOLL-CARNE, the father of the deceased, when they sold St. Donat’s Castle and estate and have since resided in their other family seat at Nash Manor, which is about six miles from St. Donat’s and four from Cowbridge. Deceased was a keen golfer and a member of the Barry Golf Club. He received his early education at Cowbridge Grammar School and thence went to the training-ship Britannia.
Provenance by way of the attached label written by his nephew.
Includes sword, scabbard and all weather bag. The sword etched with the address (but not their name) of Gieve Matthews Seagrove Ltd (21 George St. Hanover Square), the scabbard with embossed / raised details “Royal Naval Outfitters” and another of that company’s addresses “44 Fore Street Devonport”, again no maker’s / retailer’s name, which is very unusual. This sword (no officer’s name to folding guard and no royal cypher – early to mid 19th Century Royal Naval officer’s sword blades normally only had the British Royal Coat of Arms, as this one does) may well suit a serving Royal Naval officer as it is in such good condition.
The retailer’s details etching in a circle and scabbard badge are very rare examples. We believe based on these and the proof stud, this sword was made by Robert Mole of Birmingham, not Wilkinson who normally made their swords; this would account for the rare blade etching and scabbard badge
The well etched 31 1/4 inch blade is in very good condition and firm in the hilt. The gilt brass hilt is in very good condition; the folding guard section works well and locates securely onto the retaining pin of the scabbard’s top fitting / locket. The white fishskin grip is very good, the odd spot and edge tarnish from the backpiece, nothing much; the twisted wire bindings are also very good. The leather and gilt brass scabbard is very good, some light scuffing and tarnish around the badge. The sword sheathes and draws well. The black all weather bag is aged but quite good still.
Great sword, rare retailer’s badge and etching, interesting histiory with huge research potential as to why this officer did what he did. Yours for £700. Please ask for item reference AI54. Further / full sized images available upon request. Box 2077 107 x 16 x 15 (1.86).
