Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- army_gear [2018/09/10 18:26] – judith
+++ army_gear [2020/03/22 20:47] (current) – judith
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 ====== Army gear ======
-These photos are of a restored [[wp>Mameluke_sword|Mameluke sword]] and scabbard recently bought 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 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.\\
+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|}}\\
 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 }}\\
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+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.)) \\
+\\
-The below swords, in original condition with damaged scabbards, need further identification and cleaning.((Provenance: Geoffrey M-P/J. Godden.)) 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.\\
+{{:sword_straight_cropped.jpg?direct&500|}} A sword in its unrestored state with the maker's name on its side, indicating it was made in Paris. The grove down the side indicates that it meant business: it allows the blood to run down the sword. Expert restorer Haydn Vesty suggests it was made c.1812 and probably part of the victor's booty.\\
+\\
+The sword after restoration work kindly carried out by Haydn Vesty. {{:img_0336.jpg?300|}} {{:img_0337.jpg?300|}}\\
+\\
+An interesting aspect to the sword's decoration, is that it has a (badly deteriorated) engraving of a woman's face on one side, and the (better preserved) back of a woman on the reverse side. The latter is shown in the next photo.  {{:img_0338.jpg?300|}}\\
+\\
+ {{: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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+{{: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)).\\
-The next photo is of Thomas Prior's shoulder belt plates from when he belonged to the 59th Regiment of Foot in the 1830s.((Provenance:Tom A. & Therese M-P)). {{:img_1008_59th.jpg?direct&400|}}\\
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-These photos try to do justice to Thomas Prior's ingeniously-made travelling kit.((Provenance:Tom A. & 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|}}
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-===== Whose? =====
-{{:mp28.jpg?500|}} These are Indian tabar axes,((Provenance:Tom A. & Therese M-P and thanks for identification by Damien Fegan, via Facebook.)) 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 have been bought by Thomas de M. M-P when he 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 A. & Therese M-P, pers. comm., 2017.))