Trafalgar Period Royal Navy Midshipman's Sword
Posted: 22/10/18 (16:27pm)On the 21st October, 1805, the Royal Navy, commanded by Admiral Lord Nelson met and defeated the French navy at Cape Trafalgar. Since the late summer of 1805, Napoleon had been amassing an army on France's coast, preparing for the invasion of England. Victory at Trafalgar cost Nelson and many others their lives but stopped Napoleon's invasion plans (and allowed the English monarch and aristocracy to breath a little easier).
With the anniversary of Britain's most celebrated naval victory upon us, you can imagine my excitement at having the chance to purchase a Trafalgar period midshipman's fighting sword.
The first thing that struck me was how small it was. It was clearly made for a child. The total length of the sword is 615mm, with the blade being just 500mm long. It really brought home to me the fact that midshipmen were often just children, boys of around 12 years old.
Despite the youth and diminutive stature of the owner, the sword was clearly made to be an effective weapon and was sharpened for action. It made me wonder whether the owner had experienced the deafening, deck splintering horror of a naval broadside? He probably did. The late 18th and early 19th centuries were a busy time for the Royal Navy.
Whether the child grew to be a man, or to captain his own vessel we can never know.
The sword's hilt is of the pattern officially adopted by the Royal Navy in 1805. Prior to 1805, the Royal Navy had no regulation pattern of sword for its officers. This style of hilt was in use by both land and sea forces before 1805, one of the best know examples being the British 1796 light cavalry sabre and pre-regulation examples of Royal Navy fighting swords with this style of hilt are also to be found.
The curved blade of this midshipmans sword indicates that it is one such example, and help date it to between the end of the 18th century and soon after 1805. The newly adopted 1805 regulation pattern sword having a straight blade.
Below are a couple of photos of the sword. I will take more detailed and close-up images when I eventually add it to the website. But for now, I am going to enjoy owning it and give a silent nod to those brave men and boys of Nelson's Royal Navy.
