NAM.2000-10-354-2

Wooden scabbard for Indian Shamshir, 1850 (c). Covered in decorative golden paper, with blue glass decoration on the metal and scratched with ‘NBII’. Belonged to Col Jeremiah Brasyer, Bengal Artillery, and associated with the 1st Afghan, 1st and 2nd Sikh Wars and Indian Mutiny. Before enlisting in the Army, Jeremiah Brasyer was a gardener at Scadbury House, Kent, then owned by the donor’s great-grandfather. After his retirement from the Army, Colonel Brasyer returned to Kent and left £6,000 and probably also the sword and other personal items to the donor’s grandfather. Jeremiah Brasyer’s military career began with enlistment in the Bengal Artillery in 1833 after which he was promoted to Ensign, 10 Feb 1846. He gained further promotions to Adjutant on 12 Jul 1848, Lieutenant on 3 Feb 1852, Major on 9 Mar 1855 when he was awarded a CB (Companion of the Order of the Bath). Brasyer was finally promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 1859 and retired in 1861.

1st Afghan War (1838-1842), 1st Sikh War (1845-1846), Indian Mutiny (1857-1859), 2nd Sikh War (1848-1849)