Orders, Decorations and Medals

An 1887 pattern cavalry sword for an officer of the 15th Hussars, who won a DSO in the Boer War and was killed in action during the Great War whilst commanding a battalion of the Cheshire Regiment on the Western Front in July 1916, the 89cm blade by Henry Wilkinson, Pall Mall, London, No. 28904 for 1888, etched with crowned VR cypher, foliate scrolls and strapwork etc, and within a cartouche at the forte the owners crest and monogram RLA and 15th King’s Hussars, regulation pierced steel guard, chequered pommel and backstrap, fish-skin covered grip bound with silver wire, complete with its steel scabbard, scabbard dented at lower end otherwise good condition overall £400-450

The sword of Robert Lowndes Aspinall DSO, born in 1869 educated at Eton he was commissioned into the 15th. Hussars in 1887, fought in South Africa with the Yorkshire Regiment and was on Sir John French’s Staff, was mentioned in despatches and awarded the D.S.O., Q.S.A. and K.S.A. During the Great War he raised a new battalion of the Green Howards and later commanded a battalion of the Cheshire Regiment, which he was most gallantly leading into action when he was killed in action on 2 July 1916 during the fighting on the Somme. He was a fine horseman, and had won the Cavalry Brigade Cup at Aldershot.

The Wilkinson proof books record sword No. 28904 for R L Aspinall 15th. Hussars, September 24th. 1888.

Sold with further research.