Militaria

Lot 1716    SESSION 7 (11.30AM TUESDAY 31ST AUGUST)    Militaria

Estimate $2,500
Bid at live.noble.com.au

ROYAL NAVY OFFICER'S SWORD, 1805 dress pattern by Read of Portsmouth, double edged blade (length 67cm), the top half blackened and with damascened pattern, the handle in marine ivory with brass twist wire wrapping, the stirrup hilt guard with lion's head pommel with suspension loop at end and the D guard engraved and with Queen Victoria crowned fouled anchor pattern on drop downs on blade guard at both sides, the scabbard at top and mid section with suspension loops and both with engraved decoration, the throat fitting at top inscribed on one side, 'Read/Sword Cutter/Portsmouth', on the opposite side is an oval panel with a figure of an angel, the mid section fitting also with an oval panel on one side with a figure of angel holding an anchor and at the bottom of the scabbard is again engrave-decorated and with an oval panel on one side with a figure of an angel. The leather scabbard with a break above the bottom brass guard and in two other places and the brass throat fitting loose, wear to the blade decoration, otherwise fine.

Together with the following,
1. Funeral card requesting attendance at the funeral of the late Comr Wm Walker RN at Kensal Green Cemetery on Saturday 24 March 1860. The card is in an envelope addressed to T.Walker Esq at Charing Cross and post stamped at London for 5 Mar 1860.
2. Sketch book with 30 images, many of them coloured and many of them with handwritten description below, includes 19 scenes of Portuguese or English locations and 11 images of natives of Brazil, on the inside of the book cover is handwritten, 'Captain William Walker. RN.'. (note that as a First Lieutenant Wm Walker was awarded a Portuguese Knight of the Order of the Tower and Sword)
3. Another book handwritten on the inside first page 'The Waste Book/London - January 1st 1802'. On the inside of the cover is handwritten, 'R.H.Toll Inn/Mortan/Beerferris/Near Tavistock/Devon', and in different handwriting, 'Thomas William Walker/January 1842'. The front section of the book contains some ledger entries but mostly various poems, Latin text with English translation as well as the same in French, also various sayings and phrases as well as numerous newspaper cuttings pasted onto the pages. Inside the back cover is handwritten, 'Thomas William Walker/Paradise Row/Stoke/Devon/March 12, 1811.', and more of the same items as in the front half of the book. All handwritten text is of high quality script and obviously written by someone with a good education. (Note: Thomas William Walker is probably William Walker's brother as he has dated the above book in 1811 and William Walker was not married until 1830).

Extract from A Naval Biographical Dictionary by William R. O'Byrne, London 1849.

'Walker, K.T.S. (Commander, 1828. f-p., 16; h-p., 30.)

William Walker (a) entered the Navy, 1 May, 1801, as L.M., on board the Imp?tueux 74, Capt. Sir Edw. Pellew, under whom he was for about 11 months employed off Rochefort. Joining next, 3 Feb. 1803, the Amphion 32, Capt. Thos. Masterman Hardy, he sailed in that frigate with the flag of Lord Nelson for the Mediterranean; where, in July of the same year, he followed the hero into the Victory 100. In Dec. 1804, at which period he had been serving for six months with Capt. Hon. Geo. Elliot, still in the Mediterranean, on board the Maidstone 32, he removed to the Jason 32, Capts. Wm. Burgundy Champain and Thos. John Cochrane, and sailed for the West Indies. He there, 27 Jan. 1807, assisted as Master's Mate at the capture, off the coast of Surinam, of La Favorite French national ship, mounting 16 long sixes and 13 12-pounder carronades, with a complement of 150 men; and he contributed, in the boats, to the capture of a letter-of- marque of 9 guns and 35 men, and of four Spanish vessels under a heavy fire from the batteries of Puerto Rico. Returning to England in the summer of 1807 he joined in succession in the course of that and the following year the Ville de Paris 110 and Caledonia 120, each bearing the flag of Lord Gambier; and, as Acting-Lieutenant, the Triumph 74, Capt. Sir T. M. Hardy. A few weeks after he had returned to the Caledonia he was nominated, 20 Feb. 1809, Sub-Lieutenant of the Martial gun-brig, Lieut.-Commanders Joseph Marrett and Joshua Kneeshaw; in which vessel, it appears, he witnessed the destruction of the French shipping in Aix Roads and accompanied the expedition to the Walcheren. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant 1 Aug. 1811, nearly seven months after he had left the Martial; and he was subsequently appointed - 23 Dec. 1811, to the Royal Sovereign 100, Capts. Wm. Bedford and Jas. Bisset, in the Channel - 15 Dec. 1813, to the Saturn 56, Capt. Jas. Nash, on the North American station, whence he returned in Nov. 1814 - 18 May, 1821, to the Windsor Castle 74, Capt. Chas. Dashwood, employed, until 1825, at Plymouth and on the coast of Portugal - and 16 March and 26 June, 1827, to the Royal Charlotte and William and Mary yachts, both commanded by Capt. John Chambers White. Since his promotion to the rank of Commander, which took place 25 Aug. 1828, he has been on half-pay.

In commemoration of John VI of Portugal having taken shelter on board the Windsor Castle off Lisbon after the temporary occupation in May, 1824, Commander Walker, who was then First-Lieutenant, was by his Majesty created, in common with the other officers of the ship, a Knight of the Order of the Tower and Sword. He married, 2 Sept. 1830, Caroline, third daughter of Wm. Winchester, Esq., of Stoke, niece of Alderman Winchester, M.P., of Hawkhurst, and sister-in-law of Commander Rich. Douglas, R.N.'

With research.

Note: Licence to own required in State of Victoria, Australia.

No mail out for this lot, collection only from the Sydney Office, or buyer to make own arrangements.