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Auction: 24112 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 812

(x) The fascinating Pattern 1796 Light Cavalry sabre carried by Sergeant E. Blake, 23rd Light Dragoons, who served with his regiment during the battles of Quatre Bras and Waterloo; on 18th June 1815 he was one of six men wounded and taken prisoner late in the day - his comrades never saw him again

Pattern 1796 light cavalry sabre, steel blade with pronounced curve widening near the point, iron backpiece, black leather grip, steel guard, this marked 23 LD 2 and one langet contemporarily engraved in upright capitals Sergt. Edward Blake, iron scabbard complete with suspension rings, whitened buff leather sword knot, 95cm including scabbard, blade with some evidence of old rust pitting otherwise clean and bright, overall very fine

Edward Blake is confirmed via Regimental Muster Rolls and the Waterloo Medal Roll as serving with the 23rd Light Dragoons during the Waterloo Campaign. Though the modern published roll shows Blake as a member of Captain John Martin's No. 2 Troop, the original Royal Mint roll suggests he was actually a member of Captain Philip Cox's No. 6 Troop.

On 16 June, the 23rd were rushed up from Brussels to Quatre Bras and the following day were employed with Dornberg's 3rd Cavalry Brigade in covering the retreat of Allied troops. At Waterloo, the regiment were posted in the rear of General Sir Colin Halkett's 5th Infantry Brigade around the Allied right centre, and during that long and dangerous day made several important charges with a high degree of ‘steadiness and determined bravery’. Between five and six o'clock that day, Cox's Troop was detached from the main body of the regiment and successfully repulsed and pursued a body of French cavalry which had been causing annoyance to a battery of artillery, until they were repulsed by the fire of a French infantry square - it seems fair to surmise that it was probably during this episode that Blake was wounded, unhorsed, captured, and later recorded 'missing presumed killed'.

Sold together with two Wallis and Wallis lot tags and an old laminated card stating: 'British 1796 Pattern Light Cavalry Sabre, Langette inscribed "Sergt. Edward Blake".
An interesting sword from Waterloo. Sergeant Blake of 23rd Light Dragoons, was amongst six men wounded and taken prisoner late on the 18th June. He was later recorded as "Missing Presumed Killed."

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Sold for
£1,400

Starting price
£700