EL6740 - The Wilkinson cavalry sword of Major Carew, 7th Hussars, numbered 29398 and dating to 1889. Major Carew won the Distinguished Service Order (DSO), "In recognition of services during the operations in Mashonaland in 1897." The only D.S.O. awarded for this campaign. George Albert Lade Carew was born on 10 March 1862. Commissioned into the Hampshire Militia in 1879, gazetted to the 7th Hussars as Lieutenant, 31 October 1883, becoming Captain in December 1889, and Major in April 1898. He took part in the operations in South Africa 1896-97, and was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 9 March 1897). He commanded a column in the Mashonaland campaign of 1897, was again Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 18 February 1898), received the medal with clasp and was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order.
"I wish especially to convey my appreciation of the manner in which Major H. M. Ridley, Captains G. A. L. Carew and R. M. Poore and the officers and men of the 7th Hussars, carried out my wishes in every particular, and greatly assisted in the suppression of the rebellion. After Major Ridley was wounded, Captains Carew and Poore commanded separate columns, and in the attack on Mashingombi these officers timed their marches, and brought their forces into the field in such a manner as to render my plan of attack by three columns simultaneously entirely successful." (Despatch of Richard E. R. Martin, Deputy Commissioner, Bulawayo, November 15th, 1897). Mashingombi‘s kraal was attacked and captured on 26 July, 1897, by the police under Colonel de Moleyns, and the 7th Hussars under Captains Carew and Poore. Major Carew served in the Boer War with the Rhodesian Field Force in 1900, as a Special Service Officer, and with the 7th Hussars in 1901-02 (Queen’s Medal with 6 clasps). He retired in 1902.
The sword itself is in excellent condition, with bright blade and crisp etching, bright hilt (a little pitting) and good grip. The blade has been well service sharpened. The hilt is firm on the tang. This hilt was fitted after 1896 to match the new regulations, and would originally have had a light cavalry 3 bar hilt. Sadly the scabbard is lacking. A lovely top quality sword in excellent condition, with a fantastic history.
