Arms, Armour and Militaria

A fine quality HM silver mounted presentation sword, presented to an officer for his gallantry at Givenchy in 1915 whilst serving with the 20th. [Blackheath & Woolwich] Battalion London Regiment, 1897 pattern infantry officer's sword the straight 83cm dumbell section blade by Henry Wilkinson, Pall Mall, London, No 50314 for 1915, finely etched with GVR cypher Royal Arms and intricate floral patterns and within a panel a presentation inscription 'Presented to Captain W M L Escombe DSO 20th. Bn. London Regt. [Blackheath & Woolwich] TF by the staff of Escombe McGrath & Co. London, Manchester, Liverpool, Southampton, Glasgow, Middlesboro' Birmingham & Grimsby in commemoration of his gallant action at Givenchy Bluff May 28th. 1915', regulation guard in solid silver, London HM, the date letter omitted and with the makers touch mark EHW, the backstrap, pommel and ferrule also in HN silver, fish-skin covered grip bound with silver wire, retaining original sword knot and complete with its brown leather field service scabbard, minor marking to blade but retaining almost all its original finish, the whole in near fine condition throughout £1000-1200

The Wilkinson proof books record sword no. 50314 proved 4 October 1915, 'A silver infantry' for Captain W. M. L. Escombe.
 
William Malcolm Lingard Escombe CBE DSO Born at Bromley Kent in 1891, educated at Bradfield College, commissioned in 1911, he proceeded to France in March 1915 with his battalion, he was awarded the DSO for his gallantry as a company commander at Givenchy in May 1915, he was severely wounded at Loos in 1915 by a gunshot to the right arm and after recovering was never fit enough to again serve on the Western Front and became an instructor seeing the war out in the UK. In later life he became Managing Director of the family firm, Master of the Merchant Taylor's Company, President of the Conseravative & Unionist Association & etc awarded the CBE in 1960, he died at Wheathampstead on 21 November 1973, sold with further details.