About this lot

Description

Duke of Manchester's Light Horse, a collection of Regimental militaria relating to Sergeant Smith H. Rowley of Histon, Cambridgeshire, including mahogany boxed presentation inscription sword, maker R S Garden, London, no.644, from Captain Towgood '... for Proficiency in Sword Exercise July 4th 1865'; four silver cup trophies presented to Rowley; a silver model equestrian statuette 1871 with plaque below; Rowley's regimental cap; red tunic; Cambridgeshire Yeomanry plumed helmet with badge and chin strap; various papers and photographs; also a First World War medal group to Captain Sidney Smith Rowley, with miniatures; and a few other associated items including Masonic regalia (qty) Provenance: By family descent Offered with a newspaper dated 1930 with Rowley's obituary, describing him as the last of the 'D Troop' (Cambs) Duke of Manchester's Light Horse Volunteers. Other Notes: The Duke of Manchester's Light Horse, a famous cavalry regiment, was raised in Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire by the Duke of Manchester at Kimbolton Castle. The Duke was inspired by his friend the Earl of Sandwich's formation of the 1st Huntingdonshire Rifles Volunteer Corps in the 1850s. The Manchesters wore instantly recognizable bright red tunics, perhaps as a gesture of oneupmanship towards Sandwich, whose troops were clad in drab dark green. By 1865 when the then Prince of Wales became Colonel of the regiment, it consisted of four troops at Bedford, Sharnbrook, Kimbolton and Cambridge. Officers were drawn from local county and farming families and each recruit had to be an excellent horseman and had to provide two horses. Every member paid handsomely for the privilege and pleasure of belonging to it, with each paying an annual subscription, as well as for his uniform, he also supplied his own horse and harness and took his batman with him in the periodical training. Most of the farmers broke their own horses - there was a requirement to be dashing in appearance but also to uphold the highest cavalry standards. The Regiment took part in many ceremonial parades, most notably as escort to HRH Princess Alexandra at her wedding in 1863 to HRH The Prince of Wales. Their Regimental balls were held at Kimbolton Castle, several of which were graced by the Prince of Wales. At the Castle hangs the great painting by Dessanges of the Duke of Manchester in his uniform as Colonel of the Light Horse, standing by his favourite charger. The Regiment was disbanded in 1882. The four silver cups in this lot were mainly presented for sword proficiency and date between 1865 and 1878.

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