The Sword of General Sir William Fenwick Williams, Baronet of Kars, in the Royal Armouries (IX.1841) and Aspects of High Victorian Sword Design

Abstract

The Sword of Honour (RA IX.1841) presented in 1856 by the Province of Nova Scotia to its native son, General Sir William Fenwick Williams, Bart. for his deeds at Kars, Turkey, is described, illustrated, discussed and placed both in its historical and its design context. Other notable British swords of the Victorian Age (1837–1901), the Age of Empire, are also examined and the various and influential aspects of their designs, ornament and iconography discussed.

Keywords:

• British Swords of Honour
• General Sir William Fenwick Williams
• Royal Armouries (IX.1841)
• Nova Scotia
• Siege of Kars
• Victorian presentation swords
• International Exhibitions
• Age of Eclecticism
• British manufacturers and designers

I should especially like to thank Sir Alan Outram, Bart; John Culme, who kindly read an early draft of this article, the late Claude Blair, Ian D. Campbell, Philip J. Lankester, Jeremy D. Hall, formerly Senior Photographer, Royal Armouries, Tower of London; David Beasley, Librarian, and Eleni Bide, Assistant Librarian, Goldsmiths’ Company of London; David Williams and Kate Thomas of Bonhams London; the late Peter Hayes, formerly Keeper of Weapons, National Army Museum, London; the Royal Engineers Museum, Chatham, Kent; the Trustees of the Royal Armouries, Leeds, the National Army Museum, London, the Victoria and Albert Museum, London; the Glenbow Museum, Calgary, Alberta, the Guildhall Library, City of London, the London Metropolitan Archives, the Warburg Institute, University of London, and the National Archives, Kew, Surrey.

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Notes on contributors

Leslie Southwick

Dr Leslie Southwick is a researcher and writer on arms and armour. Address: [email protected]