British Infantry Officers and Swords 1914

[Guest]

Hello. Can anyone tell me when British Infantry Officers stopped wearing swords in action? I have been rather surprised to see a few photos of Officers with the BEF in 1914 with swords. I thought (wrongly) that swords had been left at the Base.

Thanks in advance. MG

[Pat Atkins]

I'm (almost) sure I've read Montgomery quoted as saying he'd tripped over his in action in 1914 - perhaps at Le Cateau? Might be able to ferret out the reference given time.

Pat

[Guest]

Yes he did.. and it probably saved him as most of the men with him were allegedly cut down. It was this incident that made me realise they were in action with swords drawn.

[Pat Atkins]

Aha - well, I haven't helped then I'm afraid. It's a great story though.

Cheers, Pat

[Muerrisch]

2nd RWF definitely took swords on active service: some sad tales of "lost" swords of the casualties early on.

[Guest]

Indeed...lots of photos of Officers at Le Cateau with swords. Simply curious to know when swords were officially jettisoned by the infantry. I am assuming around the time if first Ypres. Can't imagine a sword being particularly useful in the trenches. MG

[Andrew Upton]

Can't imagine a sword being particularly useful in the trenches. MG

Au contraire :

http://regimentalrogue.tripod.com/blog/201302xx4_that_sword_450px.jpg

[Guest]

Very good.

[barrieduncan]

Officers of the 2nd Scottish Rifles carried their swords into action at Neuve Chapelle on 10th March 1915, or at least those of B Company did. The CO left it to the Company Commanders to decide if their officers would take their swords into action. The OC B Company, Captain E. B. Ferrers is said to have went into action that day with his sword tied to his hand so that, in the event of his death, he would die with his sword in his hand. He was the only Company Commander to survive the attack, although he was severely wounded twice while leading his Company. It was told afterwards that he used his sword to try and drag the German barbed wire away to let his men through, before being shot twice and put out of the fight. At some point after the War he must have had his sword reconditioned; there are no scratches or notches on the blade but it is rather narrow, suggesting the armourer had to grind off a fair amount of metal.

http://www.sllcmuseumscollections.co.uk/search.do?id=137260&db=object&page=1&view=detail

[chrissparrow]

Billy Congreve was given his father's sword when he became a general - so the story goes. He then had it sharpened for action in the front line!

Chris

[barrieduncan]

"Orders were issued that all bayonets and Officers swords were to be handed into the Armourers shop to be sharpened. I had always looked upon my sword as an ornamental weapon which lent a certain amount of style and dignity to parades, and indeed had practiced assiduously in saluting with it, after being told by my Company Commander, on one occasion, that it was not an umbrella I was carrying. I had never contemplated using it in battle. I had never been taught to use it as an offensive weapon. One could not cut with it, but only thrust, and the thought of getting near enough to a German, to use it in that way, gave me much food for thought. After all, I was armed with a pistol, with six bullets in the chambers, and although I was an indifferent shot with that weapon, I reckoned at least one or two might reach the target. I was however a first class shot with a rifle, and I considered I would be far more offensive with ten rounds in the magazine, and one up the spout. I therefore determined to arm myself with a rifle at the first opportunity."

Recollections of Major J. D. Hill, M.C., The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)

[David Ridgus]

in this, as in many things, Richard Holmes's Tommy is my bible.

He records that, "At least one infantry officer wore a sword on 1 July 1916, an adjutant who wanted to ensure that he could be easily identified by runners. But by this stage they were clearly obsolete, and a general routine order specified that they should be sent back to England 'securely fastened so that the sword cannot fall out, or become detached from the scabbard.'"

The order is footnoted as 'General Routine Orders, 1 January 1918, part 1 page 14'

David

[PFF]

Mad Jack Churchill used not only a sword but a bow and arrow In World War II......http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Churchill

[Khaki]

Not too relevant but I don't recall seeing KGV wearing a sword on his more informal photographs taken with troops in France, perhaps he did so when reviewing troops or when mounted.

khaki