PROPERTY SOLD BY THE DESCENDANT FAMILY OF THE 8TH EARL OF AIRLIE THE SILVER-MOUNTED GEM-SET SWORD PRESENTED OF DAVID WILLIAM STANLEY, 8TH EARL OF AIRLIE, BREVET MAJOR 10TH ROYAL HUSSARS, BY JOHN FRANCIS LATHAM FOR WILKINSON SWORD COMPANY, LONDON SILVER HALLMARKS 1885, NO. 27050 FOR 1885 with polished regulation blade, etched on one face with the presentation inscription in a central panel enclosed by elaborate scrollwork and, on the other, with further scrollwork, Regimental details, the owner's full arms with crest, supporters and motto, maker's details including 'patent solid hilt', and battle honours for Peninsula, Waterloo, Sevastopol, Ali Masjid, Afghanistan (1878-9) and Egypt 1884, silver triple-bar hilt including chequered back-strap engraved with the owner's crest and motto beneath an earl's coronet, composition grips inlaid with a green and red gem set bouquet of rose-cut diamonds on one face and the Regimental device, the Prince of Wales's feathers in enamelled gold, gems and rose cut diamonds on the other, with a portion of its sword knot cord (knot missing), in its silver scabbard, with silver drag and two silver rings for suspension (small dents) 89.0 cm; 35 in blade The presentation inscription reads PRESENTED TO DAVID WILLIAM STANLEY, 8TH EARL OF AIRLIE, BREVET MAJOR 10TH ROYAL HUSSARS BY HIS TENANTS, NEIGHBOURS AND OTHER FRIENDS IN THE COUNTIES OF ANGUS AND PERTH IN TESTIMONY OF THEIR RESPECT AND ADMIRATION OF HIS GALLANT SERVICES IN AFGHANISTAN AND THE SOUDAN 1885 Lieutenant Colonel David Stanley William Ogilvy, 6th Earl of Airlie (titled 8th Earl during his life) was born on 20 January 1856 at Florence, Italy to David Graham Drummond Ogilvy, 5th Earl of Airlie and Hon. Henrietta Blanche Stanley. He was educated at Eton College and Balliol College, Oxford. He gained the rank of Lieutenant in 1874 in the service of the 1st Regiment, joining the Scots Guards the following year and 10th Hussars in 1876. He fought in the Second Afghan War between 1878 and 1879. He succeeded to the title of Lord Ogilvie, 6th Earl of Airlie on 25 September 1881. He fought in the Sudan Expedition in 1884 and the Nile Expedition between 1884 and 1885, being slightly wounded at Abu Klea and again at El Gubat, where he was twice mentioned in despatches. He held the office of Representative Peer for Scotland between 10 December 1885 and 1900. He married Lady Mabell Frances Elizabeth Gore, daughter of Arthur Saunders William Charles Fox Gore, 5th Earl of Arran of the Arran Islands and Lady Edith Elizabeth Henrietta Jocelyn, on 19 January 1886 at St. George's Church, Hanover Square, London. He gained the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in December 1897 in the service of the 12th Lancers. He fought in the Boer War in 1900, and was mentioned in despatches for gallantry at Modder River, and was again wounded near Brandfort. He was killed in action on 11 June 1900 at Diamond Hill, Pretoria, Transvaal, South Africa, after leading his regiment in a charge which saved the guns. The following is an abbreviated account of the Battle of Diamond Hill, taken from Louis Creswicke's South Africa and the Transvaal War (1901): The Boer rifle-men approached with such audacity with a view to the annihilation of the gunners of Q Battery and the capture of their pieces, that for protection sake the 12th Lancers were ordered to charge. The Earl of Airlie, who already had had his horse shot under him, was seeking a new charger. He joined his regiment in time to lead to the attack, but he found himself exposed to a murderous tornado from the southern slopes of Diamond Hill. Nevertheless, the charge of the valiant band, small though it now was, had a glorious result. Away scudded the Boers to both sides, scattering over the distance towards Diamond Hill, while their oppressive propinquity to the British guns was brought to an abrupt close. This done, Lord Airlie decided, as the horses were too jaded and overworked to engage in effective pursuit, to become no further involved. He was about to withdraw his regiment when suddenly a bullet caught him, and, almost instantly, he fell dead. Thus the Empire lost one of its finest soldiers, one of its most honourable, well-beloved of men. The Wilkinson ledgers record this sword as a silver-hilted light Cavalry sword with patent tang, proofed 16 December 1881 and sold to Rt. Hon. The Earl of Airlie.
