EL6344 - An outstanding Wilkinson Victorian heavy cavalry officer's sword, for Captain J C Denham Parker, of Maxstoke Castle, Warwickshire. The sword is numbered 32995 for the beginning of 1895. Parker first commissioned into the 1st (King's) Dragoon Guards in January 1895. In 1898 he married Miss Evelyn Pereira. Having retired from the King's Dragoon Guards, he entered politics and was a Conservative candidate in East Northamptonshire, but when the 2nd Anglo-Boer War was declared, he patriotically signed up for service with the Imperial Yeomanry, as an enlisted soldier rather than an officer (service number 13445). He was appointed as Regimental Sergeant Major to the 73rd Company of the 19th Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry. He served during the Boer War with 'Paget's Horse', part of the South African Field Force and was Mentioned in Despatches in 'LORD ROBERTS' MENTIONS', of 4 September 1901. After the war, he returned to politics, but he died quite young in 1905, at 36 years old. This superb sword, carrying Parker's initials and crest, was obviously ordered from Wilkinson when he first commissioned into the King's Dragoon Guards, but given that it now has a custom field service scabbard (leather with plated furniture) and has been service sharpened, I feel that he must have taken it on service to South Africa, with Paget's Horse. The sword itself is in very good condition, with a clean blade, crisp etching, bright finish and minimal patina. The hilt in equally good condition, with a brightly plated steel heavy cavalry guard and backpiece, with the shagreen and grip wire also in good condition, only having lost one of the thin strands of silver wire. The hilt is totally solid on the tang. A wonderful and desirable sword, which saw military action in the hands of a very interesting individual. There is a considerable amount of research available about this officer, particularly surrounding his and his wife's political and social lives.
