EL6704 - A scarce Patent Solid Hilt Wilkinson 1897 pattern infantry officer's sword, to a WW1 casualty. The sword of Lieutenant Ralph Ivan Meynell Davidson, of the Manchester Regiment, who was shot dead during WW1, on 24 November 1914 (aged 25) https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/ca.... He is buried at Pont-Du-Hem Military Cemetery, La Gorgue, France. His father was a Colonel and he came from a military family, his brother also being killed in WW1. The sword is Wilkinson's finest product and has been very extensively and repeatedly service sharpened. Lt. Davidson clearly expected his sword to be an important weapon, but sadly he was shot in the head by a marksman very early in the war, while giving his men orders regarding the repair of a trench. Not long after this, officers would stop carrying swords in the field, as it made them too obvious to enemy marksmen. The blade is bright, with good etching and minimal patina. The hilt could be cleaned up, but is in good condition with small losses to the plating, very nice composition checkered grips on the full width patent solid tang, and the silver grip wire intact. Complete with original plated steel dress scabbard, in which the blade sheathes well. Lots more research potential for this officer and his wider family.
