In fairly good overall condition (period damage to hilt / guard),
a George V Coldstream Guards Officer's Wilkinson Sword with period
label for "Maj G A Thesiger, 44 Chelsea Park Gardens, London
SW3". The Hon. Sir Gerald Alfred Thesiger MBE was a British
High Court Judge, Mayor of Chelsea from 1944 to 1946, son of Major-General
George Handcock Thesiger.
Maj G A Thesiger was a Judge Advocate General on loan (Extra Regimental
Employment) to the JAGs from the Coldstream Guards during WW2. The
sword has the serial number 44464 (one of the range of lost serial
numbers, so no Wilkinson Sword records remain of the buyer) for
1914, so we do not know who the original officer was that owned
it, and with that whether he was a relative of the Thesiger family
or if Gerald Alfred Thesiger simply bought it second hand when he
entered service in World War Two. It appears he was made an officer
of the Coldstream Guards through family connection and had to belong
to a regiment while acting as a defense / prosecuting council or
judge during British army court martials. So this sword has a double
history, one during WW1, and another with a completely different
officer in WW2.
The piquet (light) weight 32 7/16 inch blade with pre-WW1 battle
honours is in fairly good condition, with patina in many places.
Blade firm in the hilt; the guard with patina / rust spots. The
grip in fairly good condition. The leather field scabbard aged and
damaged towards the chape; the scabbard looks large for the blade
but the sword does sheath and draw well, so that may simply have
been as designed.
Who knows what court martial sentences this sword witnessed during
WW2! An unusual bit of history for only £? (too late, now
sold) . Please quote item reference AA32 (0018). Further / full
sized images upon request.
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