A Most Unusual & Rare Version Of an Original Early 1853 Crimean War Victorian British Cavalry Sabre

The sword as was used in the both The 'Charge of the Heavy Brigade' and the 'Charge of the Light Brigade' at Balaklava in the Crimean war. This is a very unusual example in that it is slightly lighter grade than a standard troopers sword, and it bears an officers grade blade made by an Old Bond St. London maker. This may indicate it was commissioned for an officer for the Crimean war who wished to carry a sword in combat with the more up to date, newly designated regular troopers pattern hilt, as opposed to the regular old type of 1821 light cavalry officer's pattern hilt.

The British Cavalry were issued with the 1853 pattern just before many regiments, including, the 4th, 8th, 11th, 6th Dragoons the 6th Dragoon Guards, and the 13th and some of the Officer’s, such as of 15th Hussars, that were despatched to the Crimean War.

This sword was possibly used by one of the Officer’s of the 15th. One of the famed of the regiment, Louis Nolan, was an officer of the 15th Hussars who gained notoriety as the bearer of the ill-fated order precipitating the Charge of the Light Brigade.
Around 30 years ago we were honoured to have acquired the undress sabretache of Captain Nolan of the 15th that carried the order in the ‘Charge’. It was recovered from beneath his slain body and steed, and was previously on loan for display in two museums, including Alexandra Palace, for over 100 years after its return to the family.

The Crimean War (1854-56),
The Charge of the Heavy Brigade at Balaklava was described as follows;

"The first assault line consisted of the Scots Greys and one squadron of the Inniskillings, a total of less than 250 sabres. Only when the RSMs declared themselves happy with the alignment did Scarlett order his bugler to sound the 'Charge'. The idea of a charge conjures up images of the Light Brigade dashing forward at speed but Dragoons were larger men with much heavier equipment so their charge was more of a trot. Floundering at obstacles such as ditches or coppices they headed towards the massed ranks of Russian cavalry, pressing on inexorably at a mere 8 miles an hour. Slow they may have been but the effect of these heavy cavalrymen slamming into the much lighter Russian cavalry stunned their enemy"
A letter from a Captain of the Inniskillings illustrates the mellee which followed:

"Forward - dash - bang - clank, and there we were in the midst of such smoke, cheer, and clatter, as never before stunned a mortal's ear. it was glorious! Down, one by one, aye, two by two fell the thick skulled and over-numerous Cossacks.....Down too alas! fell many a hero with a warm Celtic heart, and more than one fell screaming loud for victory. I could not pause. It was all push, wheel, frenzy, strike and down, down, down they went. Twice I was unhorsed, and more than once I had to grip my sword tighter, the blood of foes streaming down over the hilt, and running up my very sleeve....now we were lost in their ranks - now in little bands battling - now in good order together, now in and out."


In the words of Colonel Paget of the Light Brigade "It was a mighty affair, and considering the difficulties under which the Heavy Brigade laboured, and the disparity of numbers, a feat of arms which, if it ever had its equal, was certainly never surpassed in the annals of cavalry warfare, and the importance of which in its results can never be known."


October 25, 1854 The Charge of the Heavy Brigade at Balaclava

by Lord Alfred Tennyson first verse

The charge of the gallant three hundred, the Heavy Brigade!
Down the hill, down the hill, thousands of Russians,
Thousands of horsemen, drew to the valley and stay'd;
For Scarlett and Scarlett's three hundred were riding by
When the points of the Russian lances arose in the sky;
And he call'd, "Left wheel into line!" and they wheel'd and obey'd.
Then he look'd at the host that had halted he knew not why,
And he turn'd half round, and he bade his trumpeter sound
To the charge, and he rode on ahead, as he waved his blade
To the gallant three hundred whose glory will never die
Follow, and up the hill, up the hill, up the hill,
Follow'd the Heavy Brigade.

Code: 20755