Description
with fullered blade with original hatchet point, unmodified regulation russet steel hilt with oval piercings, the knuckle-guard now incised '2D', locket incised 16 A No 10, the bending point test marks "B" are on the back edge of the blade at 6" and 12" from hilt, inspection stamp on the right hand side of the blade Crown with ' 4' under and stamp on the knucklebow of a Crown with 'CAST' under, pommel and back-piece in one, and ribbed cord-bound leather-covered grip (worn), in original steel scabbard (some dents) also incised 2D, with two split-rings for suspension, stamped on back of the blade DAWES
Dimensions
Blade, 88cm
Footnote
Provenance: Bought at Wallis & Wallis auction in 1995 and featured in their 1996 calendar.
Note: The inscriptions imply that this was a 2nd Royal North British Dragoons (Scots Greys) sword from the number 10 man in a troop at the April 1816 muster roll.
This would have been Corporal Alexander Hall or Sergeant John White. Hall was an Inveresk man who had served one year in the Fencibles before joining the regiment. He was 5 feet, 8 inches tall and was not wounded during the battle. White was from Renfrew and 5 feet, 10 inches in height. He too was uninjured at Waterloo and served 28 years with the regiment.
The troop was commanded by Captain Charles Barnard from Barnard Castle, Yorkshire who had been wounded at the storming of Badajoz. Aged 25, he was killed in action at Waterloo, leading the right squadron of the regiment. An epitaph to him is in the church at South Cave. He was buried on the battlefield.