THE 1831 PATTERN MAMELUKE-HILTED GENERAL OFFICER’S SWORD OF A. FORDYCE, 78TH HIGHLANDERS, BY WILKINSON, NO. 18256 FOR 1872

of regulation type, with etched blade including the crowned Royal cypher of Queen Victoria, crossed sword and baton and scrolling foliage, brass hilt, genuine ivory grips (one cracked,) , in its brass scabbard, 79.0 cm blade

The Wilkinson sword records state sword no. 18256, was received by A. D. Fordyce, 78th Highlanders, 24th August 1872.

With the extremely rare genuine natural ivory grips. These are getting so extremely hard to find without replaced plastic or imitation grips, and the ones found are exceedingly hard to export out of the UK. Truly a rarity these days on this side of the Atlantic. A wonderful addition to any edged weapons collection.

The Pattern 1831 Sabre for General Officers is a British army pattern sword prescribed for the use of officers of the rank of major-general and above. It has been in continuous use from 1831 to the present. It is an example of a type of sword described as a Mameluke sabre.

A. D. Fordyce, 78th Highlanders Info:

ARTHUR DINGWALL FORDYCE

Birthplace:
– Aberdeen, Scotland

Birthdate:
– 14 January 1845

Nationality:
– Scottish

Height:
– 5 feet 8 ½ inches

Family Background:
– Fordyce’s father was a famous politician and land owner – Alexander Dingwall Fordyce of Culsh and Brucklay, owner of the Bruckley Castle estate (more info farther down), Aberdeenshire, Scotland, a former commander in the Royal Navy, and Member of Parliament for Aberdeen, 1847 to 1852. At the extremely tender age of 13, Fordyce entered the navy as a volunteer on board the Désirée which was commanded by his relative, Captain Arthur Farquhar, and was actively involved at the blockade of the German rivers, and at the reduction of Cuxhaven in December 1813 and Glückstadt in January 1814.

Foreign Languages Spoken:
– French and German

Career before Halifax:
– Ensign, 15 July 1867 (purchase)

Postings while in NS Command:
– 9 May 1869 to 25 November 1871

Career after Halifax:
– Lieutenant, 16 March 1870 (purchase)
– Adjutant, 21 August 1872

Died:
– 25 July 1877, Edinburgh

Ensign Fordyce was one of two officers with the 78th in Halifax who had some association with the city of Halifax, Nova Scotia before coming here (the other being Lieutenant Edward Mayne Alexander) His mother, Barbara, was the daughter of James Thom, a merchant of this city. In 1835 she married Alexander Dingwall Fordyce of the Royal Navy, and left with him to live at his estate of Brucklay in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The Brucklay estate consisted of 20 903 acres, and earned the Fordyce’s an annual income of £12 967. The family also owned 46 acres in Kincardineshire, with an annual income of £1 091, yielding the Fordyces a handsome total annual income of £14 058 just from property ownership.

Alexander’s and Barbara’s fourth son, Arthur, was baptized into the Free Church of Scotland, and obtained a BA degree from Edinburgh University, before applying for a commission in the army. His initial preference was for either the 74th Highlanders, or the 92nd Gordon Highlanders, but he was assigned to the 91st Arayllshire Regiment instead, which, although a highland regiment, was at this time not kilted. When Fordyce heard of a vacancy coming open in the 78th he immediately applied for it. According to a letter written to the Horse Guards on his behalf by his eldest brother (then the owner of Bruckley), he much preferred the 78th “to the 9lst, … [and] I am most anxious that my brother, who is a Scotchman and Highlander, should enter the army and the 78th Regiment.”  This would suggest that in some circles non-kilted highland regiments were excluded from the canon of national regiments.

After leaving Halifax, Fordyce was appointed the 78th’s adjutant in August 1872 at their headquarters of Edinburgh Castle. He continued in this position until his sudden death, while serving with the regiment in Edinburgh Castle, on 25 July 1877. Davidson writes that it was “a loss deeply regretted by all ranks” to whom, as stated in the regimental orders, “he had endeared himself during the time he held the adjutancy.” In 1879 the family established the so-called “Dingwall-Fordyce Memorial Gift” of £1 200 which they contributed to the Caledonian Asylum. The commanding officer of the 78th was empowered “to present from time to time one child, male or female, of a non-commissioned officer or private serving or having served in the 78th, whether an orphan or not, for admission to the Asylum without ballot, to be maintained and educated for the same period and in the same manner as the other children inmates of the Asylum.”

Regiment History “the Ross-Shire Buffs”

Early History:

The genesis of the regiment, depicted in a portrait by Sir Thomas Lawrence, traces back to Francis Humberston MacKenzie, the Chief of Clan Mackenzie and later titled Lord Seaforth. On March 8, 1793, MacKenzie raised what would become known as the 78th (Highlanders) Regiment of Foot, alternatively dubbed “The Ross-shire Buffs”. Assembling initially at Fort George in July of the same year, the regiment’s early deployments took them to the Channel Islands in August 1793 and subsequently to Holland in September 1794 to participate in the French Revolutionary Wars. Notable engagements included the defense of Nijmegen in November 1794, where the regiment suffered casualties in a bayonet assault, losing one officer and seven men, with several more wounded. Following various maneuvers, including participation in battles such as Quiberon Bay and the landing at Île d’Yeu, the regiment found itself stationed in England by 1796.

Expansion and Overseas Deployments:

In 1794, amid their early campaigns, the 78th raised a second battalion which ventured to South Africa in July 1795. Noteworthy was their involvement in the successful assault on the Dutch Cape Colony under Sir George Elphinstone’s command, leading to its capture by British forces in September 1796. The first battalion, meanwhile, embarked for South Africa in March 1796, eventually merging with the second battalion in June of that year. Their subsequent journey to India marked the beginning of their storied engagements in the Second Anglo-Maratha War, notably at the Battle of Assaye in September 1803. Recognized for their pivotal role in this battle, the regiment was honored with a special third color by the East India Company, bearing the elephant symbol which would later become the regimental badge. Further adventures included acquiring a baby elephant as a mascot while stationed in Ceylon, a creature eventually donated to Edinburgh Zoo upon the regiment’s return to Scotland.

Napoleonic Wars and Beyond:

Throughout the Napoleonic Wars, the regiment’s activities extended from India to Java, with notable contributions to the Invasion of Java and the subsequent capture of Fort Cornelis in August 1811. However, their return journey from Java in 1816 was marred by a shipwreck off the coast of Burma, though most survived thanks to the assistance of the Prince Blucher. Amidst these events, a second battalion, raised in May 1804, saw action across Europe, from Gibraltar to Italy, including participation in battles such as Maida and the Alexandria Expedition. Their journey home was punctuated by involvement in campaigns such as the Dutch Walcheren Campaign, where they endured significant losses due to malaria. The regiment underwent amalgamation in 1817, merging the 1st and 2nd battalions while stationed in Scotland, subsequently serving in Ireland until 1826.

Victorian Era and Beyond:

In the following Victorian era, the regiment’s deployments continued, with tours in Ceylon and India, where they faced the challenges of suppressing the Indian Rebellion and participating in battles such as Khushab during the Anglo-Persian War. Noteworthy was their defense of Lucknow, earning them acclaim and multiple Victoria Crosses. Subsequent postings took them to Gibraltar, Nova Scotia, and Ireland, with roles ranging from maintaining order during sectarian rioting to garrison duty in Afghanistan. The regiment underwent structural changes as part of military reforms, culminating in its amalgamation with the 72nd Regiment to form the Seaforth Highlanders in 1881, ending its independent existence as the 78th regiment.

An honored track record:

During the 88 years from its inception to its disappearance as a distinct regiment, the 78th saw service in a dozen foreign countries and accumulated an enviable array of battle honours. Eight of its officers and men were awarded Britain’s highest military honour, the Victoria Cross. The regiment as a whole was also honored with a V.C.

Brucklay Castle:

Brucklay Castle, alternatively referred to as Brucklay House, stands as a venerable structure dating back to the 16th century, nestled within the Buchan region of Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Its earliest foundations were laid by James Crawford of Brucklay between 1600 and 1625, a period possibly marked by the integration of elements from an existing 16th-century edifice. In 1742, the castle exchanged hands within the Clan Irvine, passing into the possession of Arthur Dingwall upon his marriage into the family. Over the centuries, the castle underwent several expansions and renovations, with significant contributions from renowned architects.

Architect John Smith oversaw extensions in 1765 and 1814, while a substantial reconstruction orchestrated by Thomas Mackenzie for Captain Alexander Dingwall-Fordyce reshaped the castle’s appearance in 1849. Further enhancements followed in 1881, attributed to the work of architect James Matthews, likely in collaboration with Alexander Marshall Mackenzie, Thomas’s son.

Throughout its existence, Brucklay Castle bore witness to historical upheavals, notably serving as a site for housing prisoners of war during World War II. However, the post-war era ushered in a period of decline, culminating in the sale of the property to Charles Brand of Dundee Ltd in 1952. Subsequent dismantling of architectural features, including the removal of the roof, marked a lamentable chapter in its history. By the 1990s, the castle lay in ruins, prompting its inclusion in the Buildings at Risk Register for Scotland.