(I cannot do better than to use Jonathan Hopkins's article on the sister of the levee dress sword I now own.)
This Pattern 1827 was sold by Wilkinson on 10 July 1866 to H.S. Marsham, Esq.. Henry Savill Marsham, born 19 January 1847, was the eldest son of Reverend Henry P. Marsham and Caroline Savill Onley of Rippon Hall, Hevingham, Norfolk. Marsham was educated at Eton, and on December 2nd, 1865, was commissioned by purchase as an ensign in the 60th. Marsham was promoted to lieutenant on 17 February1869, and in that same year became adjutant of the 1st Battalion.
While stationed with his battalion in Canada, the 60th was sent as part of Wolseley's expedition to confront Louis Riel and the Métis in 1870, during the Red River Rebellion, at the Red River Settlement in what is now the Canadian province of Manitoba. Marsham is one of a handful of officer to have earned the Canada General Service Medal with clasp for Red River.
On 2 March 1878 Marsham was promoted to captain, and a few short months later in October of the same year, he was off to Afghanistan with the 2/60th. Marsham remained in Afghanistan through November of 1880, where he took part in the advance on and occupation Kandahar and Khelat-i-Ghilzie, and was present in the engagements at Ahmed Khel and Urzu near Ghuznee; and accompanied Roberts in the march to Kandahar and was present at the battle of Kandahar. In October of 1880, Marsham served in the Marri expedition under Brigadier General MacGregor. His services in Afghanistan earned him a mention in dispatches, the Afghan War Medal with two clasps and the Kabul-Kandahar Bronze Star.
In January of 1881, shortly after completing his service in Afghanistan, Marsham embarked with his battalion for Natal, South Africa to serve against the Boers in the Transvaal.
Marsham was promoted to major on 20 December 1882, married Caroline Blake Humfrey in 1883, and retired from the army in 1888.
Marsham had an active post-Army career, and served as a Deputy-Lieutenant for the County of Norfolk, Lord of the Manor of Cats-cum-Cricketots, and patron of the livings of Stratton Strawless, Brampton, and Wramplingham. Marsham was a trustee of the Norwich & Norfolk Hospital, and was for forty years a magistrate, occupying for many years the chairmanship of the Aylsham Bench. He also continued his family legacy of observing Indications of Spring He died, shortly after his 90th birthday, in April 1937.
References
Hart's Annual Army List (Various) --Lt.-Gen. H.G. Hart
A Regimental Chronicle and List of Officers of the 60th, Or the King's Royal Rifle Corps--Nesbit Willoughby Wallace
The Norfolk & Norwich Hospital, 1770 to 1900--Peter Eade
http://www.robertmarsham.co.uk
http://www.ancestry.co.uk
http://www.artfact.com
http://www.armsresearch.co.uk
This picquet weight 1827 Pattern Rifles Sword was made in 1871, five years after his full size sword was made. It was made by Wilkinson as the full size one was, and it is numbered 17557.Both these swords appeared in the same Bonham's 2002 Oxford and were purchased by the last owner until recently when Mr. J. Hopkins bought the full size in 2009 and I bought the picquet weight today.
