Original British WWI Military Cross Recipient Colonel Samuel Alexander Holwell Kirkby of 2nd Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment Pattern 1897 Light Officer’s Sword and Scabbard by Wilkinson Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. The spine is this sword is engraved with the serial number 56199, which according to Official records from WILKINSON SWORD ARCHIVE at armsresearch.co.uk , states that this sword was purchased from the Wilkinson Sword Company in April 1919 by the then Lieutenant/Captain Samuel Alexander Holwell Kirkby, 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment.

We have not been able to find much about his service information but we were able to find a Gazette article about his actions which earned him the Military Cross. The MC is granted in recognition of “an act or acts of exemplary gallantry during active operations against the enemy on land” to all members of the British Armed Forces of any rank.

The article states: “Gazette issue 31480. Military Cross; During an attack on the enemy near Pontru on September 18th, 1918, he showed great gallantry and skill in handling his platoon, on one occasion going and assisting another company to repulse an enemy counter-attack. During the second attack at midnight, when all the other officers of the company were killed, he assumed command and conducted the fighting with conspicuous gallantry, and made dispositions in a difficult situation to withstand possible enemy counter-attack.”

Pontru is a commune in the Aisne department in Hauts-de-France in northern France. Kirkby would continue to serve in the British Army and eventually obtained the rank of Colonel. During WWII he was a part of a Command Section for the Royal Sussex Regiment, it was during this time that on May 28, 1943, Colonel Kirkby was killed in an unfortunate accident. It is unclear as to the circumstances about this accident, but he wasn’t the only one killed when it happened and was most likely a motor vehicle incident or an ordnance mishap.

In the 1890s a rapid succession of regulation changes happened to British infantry officers’ swords. The change was to move away from a cut and thrust saber blade and towards a specialized straight thrusting sword.

The introduction of the new thrusting blade was quickly followed by improvements to the handle and guard of the hilt, intended to provide a better grip and greater protection to the hand.

This P-1897 Officers’ sword is a wonderful example of those changes made, and is an incredible British Infantry Officers Sword. This Victorian-era infantry officer’s sword features a single fullered etched blade and beautiful gothic style hilt in gilt brass. The basket is marked with the “GvR” monogram for King George V. This is also seen on either side of the blade in the etching.

The blade ricasso has the standard 6 pointed star around a brass plug stamped PROVED, and the reverse bears the maker information:

HENRY
WILKINSON
PALL MALL
LONDON

Shark skin grip is complete and shows light wear. The basket retains a fair amount of patina in some spots. The blade etching and embossing shows wear from cleaning. There is very little pitting or severe wear to the blade, though there is no play in the blade at the grip.

The sword is in wonderful condition and comes more than ready for further research and display.