ELC1032 - The Royal Artillery Sword of Brigadier General Herbert de Toufreville Phillips. This sword is remarkable for a few reasons, firstly that it is the sword of a high-ranking and interesting officer, who served in various campaigns from the 1880s to WW1. It is also a rare product of George Thurkle's workshop and while the sword dates to the 1880s, the etching and plating appears to have been applied after 1919, with Phillips' 'battle honours' added towards the later stages of his career. The start and end dates (1881-1919) are etched on the blade above the active service dates, as well Phillips' initials in a cartouche.
We know that the sword dates to the earlier part of his career originally, as the shape of the backstrap and hilt are pre-1895 in style. My opinion is that this sword was Phillips' first sword, bought upon his commission into the Royal Artillery in 1881. Then it was re-finished and etched after 1919, as a memento of his long and successful career. The blade has been service sharpened and then plated again after re-etching. I therefore propose that the sword is the work originally of Edward Thurkle the elder (we can see the Thurkle proof slug), with George Thurkle being the artist behind the later etching. Thurkle's swords were popular with officers of the Indian Army and are excellent quality ( https://www.antique-swords.co.uk/thurkle---a-british-sword-making-dynasty
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Brigadier General Herbert de Toufreville Phillips ( https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/person/mp76963/herbert-de-touffreville-phillips
) was born in India in 1862, the son of Lieutenant General George Robert Phillips of the Indian Army (himself the son of Harry Phillips, the famous London auctioneer). Herbert commission as a Lieutenant in 1881 and made Captain in 1889. He served in various campaigns, which are outlined in Hart's Annual Army lists and etched on the blade of this sword, including the Zhob Valley expedition (1884), Burma (1886-87), Sikkim Expedition, Tibet (1888), the Second Anglo-Boer War in South Africa (1899-1902) and WW1 (1914-18). This sword comes with a few pages of research material.
The condition overall is very good, with the blade being excellent, with only minor imperfections. The etching is deep, detailed and individual in style, with Phillips' initials and service history. Phillips probably played a part in the design, working with George Thurkle. The edge is still fine and showing previous sharpening, then subsequent re-plating. The hilt is good and solid on the tang, with a little wear to the shagreen and grip wire, and some loss of plating on the guard and backstrap. Together with the original scabbard and sword knot.
A very lovely sword with great provenance and history.
