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army_gear [2018/02/07 17:24] – [Army gear] judith | army_gear [2018/10/04 16:53] – judith |
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====== Army gear ====== | ====== Army gear ====== |
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These photos are of a restored [[wp>Mameluke_sword|Mameluke sword]] and scabbard recently acquired by Tom M-P who understands that it is the only one of its type in Australia and hence as certain as you can get to being Thomas Prior's. Thomas B. M-P donated the family sword in 1934 to the United Service Institution of NSW (now {{http://www.rusinsw.org.au/|Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies NSW}}). It apparently went ‘missing’ from the Institute not long afterwards.\\ | These photos are of a [[wp>Mameluke_sword|Mameluke sword]] and scabbard recently bought by T.A. M-P who then had them restored by Hayden Vesty. T.A. M-P understands that it is the only one of its type in Australia and hence as certain as you can get to being Thomas Murray-Prior's. Thomas B. M-P donated the family sword in 16 May 1934((hon secretary Frederick D--? to T.B. M-P, letter with T.A.M-P)) to the United Service Institution of NSW (now {{http://www.rusinsw.org.au/|Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies NSW}}). It apparently went ‘missing’ from the Institute not long afterwards.\\ |
{{:mp26.jpg?400|}} {{:mp27.jpg?400|}}\\ | {{:mp26.jpg?400|}} {{:mp27.jpg?400|}}\\ |
The below painting shows the heroic ideal of the Hussars, wielding a similar sword, in action during the Napoleonic Wars.\\ | The below painting shows the heroic ideal of the Hussars, wielding a similar sword, in action during the Napoleonic Wars.\\ |
{{ https://img3.goodfon.com/wallpaper/big/d/a5/hussars-of-the-napoleonic.jpg?400 }}\\ | {{ https://img3.goodfon.com/wallpaper/big/d/a5/hussars-of-the-napoleonic.jpg?400 }}\\ |
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These swords, in original condition with damaged scabbards, need further identification and cleaning.((Courtesy of Geoffrey M-P who generously gave them to the author)). They The straight sword appears to have the Prior crest on it with the initials TP: it has the makers name on its side, indicating it was made in Paris. Was it made to replace a damaged sword after the victory at Waterloo, or was it a battle souvenir? The other sword is presumably a family one, but its original owner is unknown. The family also has two other dress swords.\\ | The below swords, in original condition with damaged scabbards, have been identified (from photographs) by expert Haydn Vesty.((Provenance: Geoffrey M-P to J. Godden/N. Godden.)) \\ |
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| {{:sword_straight_cropped.jpg?direct&500|}} The straight sword has the maker's name on its side, indicating it was made in Paris. Haydn Vesty suggests it was made c.1800.\\ |
| {{:sword_curved_cropped.jpg?direct&500 |}} This sword is probably Thomas Prior's as, according to Haydn Vesty, it was made in the 1840s. He also states that the scabbard belongs to another sword.\\ |
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{{:sword_straight_cropped.jpg?direct&500|}} {{:sword_curved_cropped.jpg?direct&500 |}} \\ | |
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The next photo is Thomas Prior's belt buckles from when he belonged to the 59th Regiment of Foot in the 1830s.((courtesy Tom A. & Therese M-P)). {{:img_1008_59th.jpg?direct&400|}}\\ | {{:img_1008_59th.jpg?direct&400|}} This photo is of Thomas Prior's shoulder belt plates from when he belonged to the 59th Regiment of Foot in the 1830s.((Provenance:T.A. & M.T. M-P)).\\ |
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These photos try to do justice to Thomas Prior's ingeniously-made travelling kit.((courtesy Tom & Therese M-P))\\ | These photos try to do justice to Thomas Prior's ingeniously-made travelling kit.((Provenance:T.A. & M.T. M-P))\\ |
{{:mp23.jpg?300|}}{{:mp24.jpg?300|}}{{:mp24a.jpg?300|}} | {{:mp23.jpg?300|}}{{:mp24.jpg?300|}}{{:mp24a.jpg?300|}} |
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===== Whose? ===== | |
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{{:mp28.jpg?500|}} These are Indian tabar axes,((Thanks for identification by Damien Fegan, via Facebook.)) courtesy Tom & Therese M-P. They have been identified as more likely to be used as dervish axes than as combat weapons and probably date from no earlier than the mid-19th century. The dating means they may not have belonged to Col. Thomas M-P's but perhaps bought by Thomas de M. M-P as he was known to have travelled to India. The handle of the 'weapon' doubles as a sword. One of the axes has an elephant on it; the blades originally had engraving on them, which also appears to suggest they were ceremonial arms rather than weapons designed for use in war.((Tom & Therese M-P, pers. comm., 2017.)) | |
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