Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A superb and important silver mounted presentation sword by The Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Company, Regent Street, London, presented to Major General Sir Henry Burstall, KCB, KCMG, by the City of Quebec for his services whilst commanding the 2nd. Division CEF during the Great War, the straight 86cm blade with single wide fuller, back-edged and spear-pointed, etched with foliate scrolls and wreaths, etc., a shield containing the arms of the City of Quebec set between maple leaves, the recipient’s initials again set between maple leaves both within an ornate cartouche, a long spray of laurel leaves tied with a ribbon containing the legend The Great War 1914-1919, and within a central panel the presentation inscription, From his Quebec Friends to Major-General Sir Henry Burstall, KCB, KCMG, Royal Canadian Artillery, late commanding 2nd. Division, CEF during the Great War, in token of their profound admiration for his magnificent services to Empire, Canada, & Quebec, the entire hilt of silver, the half-basket guard taking the form of a mass of maple leaves pierced, embossed and finely chased, the whole set within a beaded border, the silver grip embossed and chased with two female figures within ornate scrolled panels, the first of Winged Victory in long flowing robes holding a wreath and spray of laurels, the second robed figure representing Canada holding sprays of maple leaves and a sheaf of wheat, the pommel in the form of a lion’s head mask set above a gadrooned border, complete with its solid silver scabbard, with three fine embossed and chased silver and enamelled mounts, the top locket displaying, within panels, the Arms of The City of Quebec displayed on a shield in multi-coloured enamel and within laurel sprays the recipient’s monogram HB set with diamonds and rubies, the reverse of the locket set with the recipient’s family crest of a swan again in coloured enamel, beneath which appears within laurel wreaths two trumpets representing Fame, the centre mount set with sprays of laurel and ribbons in pink and white enamel containing the legends The Great War 1914-1919 and the reverse the family motto Palmam qui meruit ferat, the chape displaying the recipient’s KCB and KCMG in silver and enamel, all three mounts additionally decorated with embossed and chased maple leaves, oak leaves, etc., the top and centre mounts with two loose reeded hanging rings decorated with leaves, each individual mount having the hallmark for London 1919 and the touchmark of the Goldsmiths and Silversmiths Company, the blade retaining all original finish, however there is an area of heavy corrosion to both sides of the blade towards the point but well clear of the etching, the silver half-basket guard a little misshapen, otherwise, although tarnished, the sword is in fine condition throughout.
£5000-6000

From 1898 until 1946 the Goldsmiths and Silversmiths Company retailed many of the most important presentation swords given during this period including the tokens given by the City of London to British and Allied Commanders-in-Chief after the Great War in 1919, see Leslie Southwick, London Silver-Hilted Swords, for more information on this important company.

Henry Edward Burstall was born in Quebec in August 1870, and was educated at Bishop’s College and the Royal Military College, Canada. Commissioned in 1889, he first witnessed active service in the Boer War, when he was present in all the major engagements of the Royal Canadian Regiment and commanded a Canadian Contingent in the South African Constabulary.

The 2nd (Special Service) Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment was raised in October 1899, arrived in South Africa in November and gained undying fame in Canadian military annals for its position of honour in leading the final attack at the battle of Paardeberg. In fact from their first engagement to their departure back to Canada in September 1900, the Royal Canadians fought in several fierce battles, and Burstall distinguished himself in each of them.

On 9 January 1900, he commanded half of ‘H’ Company, R.C.R., in the expedition to Stormberg, known as Pilcher’s Raid, and as the ‘B’ Company Commander at Paardeberg in the next month was at the forefront of the Canadians famous assault on the laager. The attack on Thaba Mountain on 30 April 1900, and on the following day, was another fine example of a fearless assault on heavily entrenched positions and Burstall’s Company was in the thick of the fighting. Carman Miller comments on the successful attack in his Painting the Map Red:

‘Challenged by heavy fire for more than three hours, Captain Burstall’s ‘B’ Company drew the heaviest fire, fought the hardest, and suffered three of the six Canadian casualties, especially when his company deliberately exposed itself to gain a protected point of high land overlooking the Boers’ position, from which it drove the remaining Boers from their stronghold on the crest of the Thaba Nchu.’

To which should be added the fact his courageous leadership was duly reported by his C.O., Lieutenant-Colonel Buchan (The Royal Canadian Regiment refers). The subsequent forcing of the Zand River in May 1900 was yet another episode of collective courage and this time the R.C.R. held the high ground on the flank of the main assault in the face of determined Boer fire, and in reporting upon the events of the day, Buchan noted the conduct of all ranks but in particular the work of Burstall, who had displayed courage of a high order. He was mentioned in despatches by Lord Roberts.

In March 1901, Burstall was attached to the South African Constabulary and doubtless drew upon his experiences from the Yukon gold rush of 1898, when he had been sent to help police the unruly area. Initially he went to Krugersdorp with a Canadian S.A.C. Contingent numbering some 300 men, including British Columbian and Winnipeg-Portage la Prairie troops. And on 31 May 1901, his troop had its first serious encounter with the enemy, a running skirmish with a Boer Commando all the way back to Krugersdorp. He was again mentioned in despatches, this time by Lord Kitchener.

Having then commanded the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery 1908-11, Burstall served with distinction in France during the Great War, initially as Brigadier-General Commanding Artillery, 1st Canadian Division, 1914-15, then as G.O.C. Royal Artillery, Canadian Corps 1915-16, and finally as Divisional Commander, Canadian Corps 1916-18. He was successively created C.B., C.M.G., subsequently promoted to K.C.B., K.C.M.G., and eight times mentioned in despatches.

After the War, he was Quarter-Master General at the Department of National Defence, and from 1920-25 he was Inspector-General. He retired in the latter year and settled in England, and died at Headbourne Worthy, Hampshire in 1944. The town of Burstall, Saskatchewan, was named in his honour in 1921. The recipient’s Honours & Awards were sold by Spink, Anglo-Boer War Anniversary Auction, October 1999 (Lot 543).