Pattern 1822 British Officer's Dress Sword - Maj. Gen. Theodore Edward Stephenson, C.B. 56th Essex Regiment

Measuring 38 inches overall with a 32 1/2 inch single edged fullered blade that is proved to one side and is maker marked to the opposite side, E.Thurkle Manufacture, 104 High Holborn, London. Blade is etched for three quarters of the length showing the Victorian Crown above  Victoria Reigns Cypher, and the opposite side showing the 56th West Essex Regiment with a likeness of the badging, and the battle honors, Moro, Gibraltar, and Sevastopol, all in banners surrounded by oak leaves, along with having his initials etched to the blade. Leather washer is in place above the brass guard and wire wrapped sharkskin grip. Housed in the issue brass field scabbard and accompanied with Maj. Gen. Theodore Edward Stephenson's brocade on Moroccan leather belt with silver buckle and hangers with silver buckles. With the sword is a framed cabinet photo (not original) measuring 8 1/2 by 10 3/4 inches of Maj. Gen. Theodore Edward Stephenson with the history of his career to the reverse. Also included is 3 reproduced photographs and one negative, color pamphlet of the History and Traditions of the Essex Regiment, and several correspondence between a collector and the National Army Museum, The Chelsford Borough Council, and Arms Dealer  David W. Dyson.

The sword is in very nice condition with the brass guard being untouched and having a nice aged even patina finish and the blade of the sword having sharp and clear etching with the metal having a shiny appearance with some grey being present from age, and has been left untouched. The brass field scabbard shows some "door dents" which is common. with the brass having been polished at some point in time.

HISTORY: 

Educated at Marlborough College, Stephenson was commissioned  into the 56th Regiment Of Foot in 1874. He served in the Second Boar War in which he commanded a column which took part in the attack on Plessis Port. In his final dispatch from South Africa in June 1902, Lord Kitchener, Commander-in-Chief of the forces during the latter part of the war, described Stephenson as "an excellent Officer, who has displayed good sense wherever he has been employed". Following the end of the war in June 1902, he stayed on in South Africa for several months with a staff appointment and the local rank of Major-General.

He also served in the Zulu Rebellion of 1905 and became General Officer Commanding the 6th Division in 1906, General Officer Commanding the 2nd Division in 1907 and Commander of the Troops in the Straits Settlements in 1910. He served in the First World War as General Officer Commanding 65th (2nd Lowland) Division before retiring in 1918.