Militaria including the Collection of the late RE Handley

12th (Prince of Wales’s) Royal Lancers Full Dress Sabretache 1837-1852. A very rare example, 5.2cm gold train lace encloses a scarlet cloth face bearing a QVC over crossed lances, over the lances a ‘VR’ cypher, below the cypher ‘XII’, laurel sprays with battle honours Peninsula and Waterloo, between the scrolls the Sphinx/Egypt upon further laurel sprays. The bag of black moroccan (lacking the fastening tab). Two ‘D’ rings detached but present, small stitching fault on the Egypt plinth and to the reverse leather backing, some surface mothing and requires professional cleaning, very good condition for the age £1000-1500

This sabretache belonged to Captain Robert Hodgson who served with the 12th Lancers during the Crimean War. His remarkable group of medals will be sold in our sale of Orders, Decorations and Medals to be held on 15 December 2011.

Robert Hodgson was commissioned from the ranks of the 16th Lancers having risen to become Regimental Sergeant Major. He was appointed Cornet in the 3rd Light Dragoons on 31 October 1845, becoming Lieutenant, 23 September 1848, and Captain, 8th Hussars, 18 September 1857. He resigned from the army by the sale of his commission in 1859.

Captain Hodgson was present with the 16th Lancers at the siege and capture of Bhurtpoor in 1825-26, and was a volunteer for the dismounted cavalry storming party (Medal and one Clasp). Also present in the action of Maharajpoor in December 1843 (Medal). He served with the 3rd Light Dragoons in the Sutlej campaign of 1846, and was present at the battle of Sobraon (Medal). Served throughout the Punjab campaign of 1848-49, including the affair at Ramnuggur (charger wounded), the passage of the Chenab at Wuzeerabad on the 1st December 1848, with the force under Sir Joseph Thackwell, action of Sadoolapore, and battles of Chilianwala and Goojerat (Medal and two Clasps). He served with the 12th Lancers in the Crimea and was present at the siege of Sebastopol (Medal with Clasp; Turkish Medal).