32.75" spearpoint blade with 14" median fullers, 1.125" wide at ricasso. Nickel-plated steel basket in regimental form with buff leather-backed red wool liner. Wire-wrapped shagreen grip. Blade etched throughout with thistles and floral motifs accompanied by George V royal cypher, crown, and British royal coat of arms. Reverse of blade etched with panel showing initials in block letters "M.L.G." Born September 27th, 1882, Matiland Lockhart Gordon graduated from the Royal Military College, Kensington, Canada in 1902 at the age of twenty. When the First World War broke out, Gordon, then a civil engineer, promptly joined the 16th Battalion, 1st Canadian Contingent and secured a commission as a Lieutenant in September, 1914. Later, he applied to join the Gordon Highlanders and was approved for transfer in March of 1915 in the special reserve of officers. In his capacity as a company officer, Gordon was wounded several times, suffering severe shrapnel wounds to his shoulder in June 1915 and a fractured collarbone in June of 1916, the latter of which required him to leave the field until September of that year. In May 1917, the regimental war diary (a photocopy of which is included with this lot) states that the Gordons participated in an early morning attack against German positions in the Southeast corner of the French town of Bullecourt, an operation later known as part of the Battle of Arras (April 9, 1917-May 16, 1917). The Gordons achieved many of their objectives, capturing 3 machine guns and 106 German prisoners. However, Captain Gordon, then attached to 2nd Battalion, is listed in the diary as wounded and missing. On August 1, 1917, after an investigation and based on statements taken from men under Gordon's command who had presumably been with or around Gordon at the time of his death, the British War Office altered his status to killed in action. Condition: Blade has been cleaned in the European fashion resulting in moderate loss of detail to etching. Guard has been similarly polished. Grip and liner are good condition with scabbard showing some old wear. A desirable sword belonging to a fallen Great War officer.
32.75" spearpoint blade with 14" median fullers, 1.125" wide at ricasso. Nickel-plated steel basket in regimental form with buff leather-backed red wool liner. Wire-wrapped shagreen grip. Blade etched throughout with thistles and floral motifs accompanied by George V royal cypher, crown, and British royal coat of arms. Reverse of blade etched with panel showing initials in block letters "M.L.G." Born September 27th, 1882, Matiland Lockhart Gordon graduated from the Royal Military College, Kensington, Canada in 1902 at the age of twenty. When the First World War broke out, Gordon, then a civil engineer, promptly joined the 16th Battalion, 1st Canadian Contingent and secured a commission as a Lieutenant in September, 1914. Later, he applied to join the Gordon Highlanders and was approved for transfer in March of 1915 in the special reserve of officers. In his capacity as a company officer, Gordon was wounded several times, suffering severe shrapnel wounds to his shoulder in June 1915 and a fractured collarbone in June of 1916, the latter of which required him to leave the field until September of that year. In May 1917, the regimental war diary (a photocopy of which is included with this lot) states that the Gordons participated in an early morning attack against German positions in the Southeast corner of the French town of Bullecourt, an operation later known as part of the Battle of Arras (April 9, 1917-May 16, 1917). The Gordons achieved many of their objectives, capturing 3 machine guns and 106 German prisoners. However, Captain Gordon, then attached to 2nd Battalion, is listed in the diary as wounded and missing. On August 1, 1917, after an investigation and based on statements taken from men under Gordon's command who had presumably been with or around Gordon at the time of his death, the British War Office altered his status to killed in action. Condition: Blade has been cleaned in the European fashion resulting in moderate loss of detail to etching. Guard has been similarly polished. Grip and liner are good condition with scabbard showing some old wear. A desirable sword belonging to a fallen Great War officer.
/113505/Internet%20Image%201.jpg "Source: Dix Noonan Webb")
/100088/Internet%20Image%201.jpg "Source: Dix Noonan Webb")
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
