Beschreibung:

The cased silver-mounted Sword of Honour, presented to John Chard V.C., R.E., by the inhabitants of the Town of Plymouth, retailed by Messrs. Hunt and Roskell, Jewellers and Goldsmiths to the Queen, 156 New Bond St., London, No.96533, London, with their silver hallmarks, with slightly curved fullered blade (old light rust patination) with point of flattened diamond section, one side etched with the presentation inscription ("...in recognition of his gallant defence of Rorke's Drift on January 22nd 1879. November 879") between the crest and motto of the recipient and that of the Town of Plymouth, the latter below Union foliage framed by strapwork, and the other side with a representation of a lion (representing Empire) emerging from foliage, with the inscription "Strong to Defend the Right - Swift to Avenge the Wrong" in gothic script against a ground of stars, and towards the tip with strapwork framing the badge, crest and motto of the Royal Engineers, the ricasso etched with retailer's details in full on one side, and with a proof stamp centred on an etched star on the other, silver gilt hilt comprising guard pierced and engraved with Union foliage and retaining the original bullion sword-knot, back-piece cast with laurel pommel with a border of beadwork, scrolled quillion, and fluted, wire-bound fishskin-covered grip, and retaining much of original gilding, housed in original wood-lined silver scabbard, ornamented with panels in repoussé representing the mission-house at Rorke's Drift; shields bearing the arms of Plymouth and England; "Vulcan forging the armour of Achilles" (referring to the generally defensive character of the operations of the Royal Engineers); a trophy of broken Zulu weapons; allegory of a lion and elephant ("symbolising the triumph of British arms in Africa" as noted by the I.L.N. see below), and on the other side panels representing the order of the Victoria Cross; shield with arms of Major Chard and the Royal Engineers; Britannia; trophy of Engineer's tools crowned with laurel by fame; St. George vanquishing the dragon, the shaped shoe hallmarked and stamped "Hunt & Roskell 7835" one one side, the lower suspension mount inscribed "Ulundi", and with the two suspension rings, held in original two-tiered oak case lined in burgundy silk and velvet, the upper tier for the sword and presentation scabbard, the lower tier for the brass-mounted brown leather belt and suspension straps and brass service scabbard, the former with gilt thread borders and gilt buckles applied with silver cast and pierced regimental badge, the interior of the lid in padded cream silk with crowned gilt retailer's details, the exterior with brass plaque engraved "J.R.M. Chard V.C. R.E." on the lid, presented 18 November, 1879