NAM.1963-10-171-1

Presentation sword, 1900; presented to FM Lord Roberts by the Mayor and Corporation of the City of Capetown in recognition of his services in South Africa, 1900. Curved single edged blade; etched and engraved. Inside: twining oak stem; flags, thistle, Field Marshal’s baton, hat and binoculars; shamrock; crossed swords, rifles, coronet and topée. On scrolls: ‘KIMBERLEY’, ‘PAARDEBERG’, ‘BLOEMFONTEIN’, ‘JOHANNESBURG’, ‘PRETORIA’. Thistle; mace crossed with fasces sword and crown; crossed swords and laurel fronds; ‘R’ superimposed on crossed batons under coronet. Outside: twined oak branch, grass; crossed swords and crossed fronds; scales, sword (masonic) and ‘1900 PRETORIA’; crossed Field Marshal’s baton; Roberts arms; arms of Capetown; crossed fouled anchor with trident on coronet. Hilt: dull metal gilt; ornamental quillons embossed with oak fronds and clovers. At the centre of the crossguard on both sides an ‘R’ imposed on crossed batons under a coronet. Worked with enamel. On the inside the hilt has an embossed figure of Justice and on the outside Britannia. With scabbard and sword knot.

Kimberley, Relief of, 1900 (Boer War 1899-1902), Paardeberg, Battle of, 1900 (Boer War 1899-1902)