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MILITARY INTEREST: a silver cased and hilted presentation sword awarded to Major George Cornwall, 93rd Highlandersmaker H.S, Birmingham 1857, blade incuse stamped 9058
87cm steel blade by Henry Wilkinson, Manufacturer, Pall Mall, London, etched for its entire length with scrolling foliage and other motifs, including the 93rd Highlanders regimental title badge and motto, a presentation inscription 'TO MAJOR GEORGE CORNWALL, 93RD HIGHLANDERS. THE GIFT OF HIS FELLOW TOWNSMEN IN TESTIMONY OF HIS LONG & GALLANT SERVICES. BANDON. MDCCCLVIII', the recipient's arms and crest, the silver hilt pierced and chased with scrolling foliage, encasing a silver wire bound fish skin grip, the whole sheaved in a plain polished silver scabbard featuring two sturdy suspension rings, length total 106cm.FootnotesIn 1815, George Cornwall (1815-1874) was born in Bandon, County Cork, Ireland, to William Cornwall Esq and Jane De La Cour. The Cornwall's were a wealthy landed family, who still held over 1000 acres in County Cork in the 1870s.
Cornwall enlisted in the military as an Ensign on July 8th, 1836 and was promoted to Captain in June 1848, at which point he exchanged to the 93rd (Sutherland) Highlanders. He led an exemplary military career, serving in numerous high profile military campaigns. Fighting in various battles in the Crimea, he suffered minor injuries in the trenches before Sebastopol, on August 3rd, 1855. He also bravely served during the Indian Mutiny, sustaining severe wounds at Gawnpore. He was promoted to Brevet-Major on the 24th of March, 1858, and became Major on 16th of April, 1858, eventually retiring from the military in 1860. Major Cornwall had the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaklava, and Sebastopol, together with the Turkish medal and Indian medal with clasp for the relief of Lucknow. In addition, for his military contribution during the Crimean War, he was presented with the Légion d'Honneur, at the grade of Chevalier (Knight); the highest honour conferred in France.
The Crimean War took place between Russia and the combined forces of the British, French and Turkish. Its causes were complex; Russia was unhappy at the treatment of their large Christian population by the Turkish and occupied present-day Romania to defend the Orthodox population. The Allies, concerned by Russia's global expansion and the threat it posed to trade routes, intervened. The 93rd Sutherland Highlanders sailed from Plymouth on 27th February 1854, arriving in the Crimea via Malta on 14th September. They would remain there until 1856.
The 93rd Sutherland Highlanders became immortalised as 'the Thin Red Line' after facing down the Russian cavalry at the Battle of Balaklava, in October 1854. War correspondent William Russell described them in his despatch to The Times as 'that thin red streak tipped with a line of steel.'
In 1857 the main body of the 93rd Highlanders, which included Captain George Cornwall, were sent to quell the Indian Mutiny. The 1857 uprising was the biggest threat to Britain's colonial power during its rule of the Indian subcontinent. At Lucknow, 'One of the companies, under Captain Cornwall, formed part of a small force which had a severe but successful engagement with a considerable body of the rebels near Fatehpur. This severely contested affair was fought with such spirit and gallantry as to excite the admiration of Captain Peel, R.N., who had command of the force.'
This impressive presentation silver sword was therefore awarded to Major George Cornwall in 1858 by the townspeople of Bandon, a gift from the town of his birth, in recognition and appreciation of his military achievements. It is inscribed on the blade, 'TO MAJOR GEORGE CORNWALL, 93RD HIGHLANDERS. THE GIFT OF HIS FELLOW TOWNSMEN IN TESTIMONY OF HIS LONG & GALLANT SERVICES. BANDON. MDCCCLVIII.'
That same year, on June 19th, by special licence in Dublin, Major George Cornwall was married to Augusta Anne, second daughter of the late Brigadier Wilson. Having retired from the military in 1860, he went on to have two daughters and a son. He died on the 21st of January 1874 in London, at the age of 59.
Literature
Roderick Hamilton Burgoyne, 'Historical Records of the 93rd Sutherland Highlanders', (R Bentley: London, 1883), pp.123-144
'List of British recipients of the Legion d'Honneur for the Crimean War', accessed via https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_British_recipients_of_the_LdHonneur_for_the_Crimean_War, 18/1/24
'How 93rd helped to quell Indian Mutiny – History's tribute to gallant Sutherland Highlanders', newspaper article, accessed via www.historylinksarchive.org.uk, 18/1/24
The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 'The Thin Red Line: The 93rd Sutherland Highlanders at Balaklava', accessed via https://argylls.co.uk/remembering-the-argylls, 18/01/24