Military Chat

I am doing some research for a friend but it is a bit of a muddle she was given a sword from a ancestor not sure of the name but this person also was a bearer at the lying in state of Queen Victoria in 1901. Can anyone help for records of the Crimean war?Sheila

Do you think the person who was at the lying in state of Queen Victoria was in the Crimean War?

The Crimean War was 1853 - 1856. That is more than 40 years earlier than the lying in state. The soldier at the lying in, if at the Crimea, would be around 60 yrs old. Far to old to be in the army still surely.

Do you mean it was a family sword and was handed down so 2 different soldiers had it?

I am not sure whether it was the same person. So you can understand my problem.It was a family sword given to a person born 1912 , who then passed it on in 2010 approx.
Sorry not alot of information I will try and pinpoint my friend for more information.
Thanks Sheila

If the sword has been handed down through the family, is it not possible to work backwards to the 1850's and see who was in The Grenadier Guards/ Crimean War?

There are lots of websites about them and you may be lucky and find one with details of the lying-in-state.

I have now been told it was used at the lying in state of Victoria but where it came from do not know it was handed down from a person who was born in 1881????

This sounds like the father or uncle of the person born in 1912, so shouldn't be too hard to find more details.

Thanks for your help but not alot o sites have details of the Crimean War

What you have to do is find the person born 1881 and go back to someone who could possibly be at the Crimean War. If they were an officer or killed you may be able to identify them.

I was asked by a relative to try to transcribe some letters, from a soldier on his paternal side (maternal is my link). My OH and myself were able to transcribe them, it was a young man, who was preparing to go to the Crimean War, writing to his mother. He died there but he isn't down as killed in action. Those who died at the war were named but more died of disease than killed so it looks like he was an unfortunate one who died of disease.

The person says not sure if the sword is Crimean and she has given me a name of the one she thinks was holding the sword at the lying in of Victorias funeral but cannot find any military records for this person he worked as a Civil Service India Office do ,not think he would be the one. We are chasing other relatives that might have a picture of the event. Thanks for your help

Would it be worth taking the sword to a specialist? The style or other marks might help to date it.

Very good idea I will mention this to my friend Thanks

It would seem from a Google search that Queen Victoria had a lying in state at Osborne House, Isle of Wight and a later one at Windsor just prior to her funeral.

There are photos online, but not clear enough to see details of swords, although with knowledge of the sword's shape etc. it might be possible to see a likeness

https://www.royalcollection.org.uk/collection/2916465/queen-victorias-lying-in-state-in-the-albert-memorial-chapel-windsor-castle

Thanks Gwyn I will let my friend know I have not got the picture of the sword. Very good site I just wish it would say who the Grenediar Guards names!

This site is actually American, but they make swords to order, as exact copies of the originals with great attention to detail.

If you know what your friend's sword looks like you might be able to identify it from one of the pictures.

http://www.militaryheritage.com/swords2.htm

Will send your information to my friend Thanks for your help