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Old 22-03-17, 02:25 PM
Tonomachi Tonomachi is offline
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Default Named British 1821 pattern officer cavalry sword

I purchased this 1821 British Officer light cavalry sword at a flea market in Northern California. How it ended up here in the states is unknown. It is in poor condition but it is named along the right side with what I could make out of:

Gha???ss England
E. W. Kelsall Kandaha 1880
Surgeon AMD

I found some biographical information from a previous auction sale of his medals which sold on Bonhams Lot 209. Surgeon Edward W. Kelsall was born in 1851 and after attending the Royal College of Surgeons, College of Surgeons, Dublin and the University of Edinburgh he obtained his commission in 1875. He served in Afghanistan during the 2nd Afghan War. In 1882 he served in Egypt and in 1884 was stationed in Bombay. In 1886 he was sent to Burma and died of cholera less than a month later. I was curious if British surgeons of this time period could simply pick any sword they chose to purchase and wear or if regulations dictated the purchase of a cavalry sword?DSCF5131.jpg

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DSCF5130.jpg
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Old 22-03-17, 03:31 PM
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Cribyn Cribyn is offline
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Hello

I am no sword expert but according to Brian Robson's book "Swords of the British Army" the 1822 Dress Regulations required regimental surgeons to carry the pattern of sword appropriate to the unit to which they were attached. This, apparently, just regularised previous practice even though regimental surgeons did not normally carry swords.

Surgeons on the staff, in hospitals and so on carried the 1822 pattern Infantry Officers' sword.

Presumably your chap was attached to a light cavalry regiment.

Regards
Roger
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Old 23-03-17, 02:30 PM
Tonomachi Tonomachi is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cribyn View Post
Hello

I am no sword expert but according to Brian Robson's book "Swords of the British Army" the 1822 Dress Regulations required regimental surgeons to carry the pattern of sword appropriate to the unit to which they were attached. This, apparently, just regularised previous practice even though regimental surgeons did not normally carry swords.

Surgeons on the staff, in hospitals and so on carried the 1822 pattern Infantry Officers' sword.

Presumably your chap was attached to a light cavalry regiment.

Regards
Roger
Many thanks for this information.
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