Sword (detail), presented by soldiers of 42nd Regiment to their commanding officer Lieutenant-Colonel James Stirling

This is a detail of a silver-gilt hilted sword presented in 1809 by the non-commissioned officers and men of the 42nd Regiment to their commanding officer Lieutenant-Colonel James Stirling.

The cast and chased decoration on the hilt and scabbard mixes classical iconography with patriotic motifs (Britannia on the grip) and regimental and Scottish images. Such decoration was common in the richly-decorated presentation swords of the period.

Until the 20th century, the treatment of soldiers owed much to the personal inclination of commanding officers. Stirling's strict but benevolent approach was indicated by his nickname in the regiment - 'Old Daddy'.

Record details

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