Beschreibung:

AN ENGRAVED COMMEMORATIVE NAVAL SIDEARM OR CUTLASS FOR THE BATTLE OF TRAFALGAR LATE 18TH/EARLY 19TH CENTURY, THE ENGRAVING CIRCA 1805 The curved steel elaborately engraved blade inscribed NELSON TRAFALGAR and ENGLAND EXPECTS EVERY MAN WILL DO HIS DUTY, the brass hilt and knuckle bow inscribed BRITANNIA, TRAFALGAR, L'AIGLE 74 and OCTR. 21 1805, the blade 27 1/2inches long (70cm), 83cm in length overall; with leather and gilt-metal mounted scabbard This naval sidearm likely commemorates the taking of the French ship of the line L'Aigle of 74 guns by a boarding party from H.M.S. Defiance (74). Keen students of the battle will know that prior to the main party boarding reaching L'Aigle, Master's Mate James 'Jack' Spratt (1771-1853) leapt overboard with a cutlass between his teeth and swam over to the French ship, gaining entrance via the stern gun ports. Engaging the French crew single handed, he was only saved by the timely arrival of the British party. Spratt was badly wounded and injuries to his leg meant that in time he would be invalided out of the Navy with the rank of Commander. He wasn't forgotten by the Navy and for a period commanded a signal station in Teinmouth, where he retired and is buried. The entry in the ship's log reads: A certain Mr.Spratt, an active young master's mate, took his cutlass between his teeth and his battle-axe in his belt, called to the 50 other boarders he was leading to follow, leapt over board and swam to the L'Aigle, followed by a few men; he got in at the stern gun port up the rudder chains and was met by some of the crew, who resisted. He swung on a rope to avoid three grenadiers, then killed two with his cutlass and pushed the third down onto a lower deck where the soldiers neck was broken, Spratt landing on top was uninjured. He succeed in cutting his way through and hauled down the Frenchman's colours, and in the act of doing so, was shot through the leg after having deflecting the shot down from his chest with his cutlass. Whilst it would be wonderful if this was the actual cutlass used by Jack Spratt, the vendors have absolutely no evidence that this is case and though with naval ancestors from a later period, have no evidence of a connection to Spratt. The word 'Britannia' engraved on the knuckle bow is likely to generic and unlikely to reference H.M.S. Britannia. That ship, while present at Trafalgar was no where near L'Aigle and in the wrong column on the day. Condition Report: Some wear to the blade and a little historic corrosion. Some damage/deterioration to the scabbard. Some cracks to the guard. Condition Report Disclaimer