Lot:18200350

12th Royal Lancers Prince of Wales’s British P1796 sword.

The sword is a British 1796 pattern cavalry trooper’s sword, issued to the 12th Royal Lancers (Prince of Wales’s), was a cavalry regiment of the British Army 12 RL = 12th Royal Lancers, H 27 = rack H, sword number 27. The name on the back of the blade is DAWES, the maker. Dawes is a Birmingham sword cutler 1767 – 1835 The crowned arrow head stamped on the blade is the official British Government inspector’s mark. Blade length is 83.7 cm. Overall length is 96cm. The 12th Prince of Wales's Regiment of Light Dragoons. The regiment took part in the French Revolutionary Wars. The Siege of Cairo in June 1801 and then participated in the Siege of Alexandria taking that city in September 1801. The regiment next deployed for the disastrous Walcheren Campaign in autumn 1809. In June 1811 the regiment embarked for Lisbon. Took part in the Siege of Ciudad Rodrigo in January 1812, the Siege of Badajoz in March 1812 and the Battle of Villagarcia in April 1812 during the Peninsular War. It also undertook two charges at the Battle of Salamanca in July 1812, before taking part in the Siege of Burgos in September 1812, the Battle of Vitoria in June 1813 and the Siege of San Sebastián in autumn 1813. The regiment next advanced into France and supported the infantry at the Battle of Nivelle in November 1813. The regiment marched through France and arrived in Calais in July 1812 from where it returned to England. During the Waterloo Campaign, the regiment was attached to Sir John Vandeleur's light cavalry brigade. At the Battle of Waterloo in June 1815, the regiment charged down the slope to support the Union Brigade of medium cavalry. In 1816, the 12th Light Dragoons was armed with lances after the cavalry of Napoleon's Army had shown their effectiveness at Waterloo and were re-titled 12th (The Prince of Wales's) Regiment of (Light) Dragoons (Lancers).