British P1912 Cavalry Sword - Back Where It Belongs
Posted: 08/11/19 (15:44pm)Another sword has gone home. It gives me great pleasure when I am able to reunite a family with one of their ancestor’s swords. I have done this on several occasions over the years.
The sword, a 1912 pattern cavalry officer’s belonged to the 12th Laird (Lord) of Torwoodlee in the Scottish Borders.
James Lewis Pringle was born in 1890. After the death of his father in 1902, twelve year old James became the 12th Laird of Torwoodlee.
As a Captain in the Lothians & Border Horse, James was mobilised to France on the 4th August 1914, where he remained until 1919. The opening months of the war saw cavalry at the forefront of the action with plenty of opportunity to use their new swords. It was with a sword of this type, a Pattern 1912 that the first British kill of the War was made by Captain Hornby of the 4th Dragoon Guards during a skirmish with the German 4th Cuirassiers.
James, the 12th Laird of Torwoodlee passed away in 1953.
Luckily, Captain Pringle’s name and regiment were etched onto the blade of his sword so I was able to contact his grandson, the 14th Laird of Torwoodlee and the sword is now back home alongside those of other ancestors.
