1897 Pattern Royal Marines Officer's Sword, "Per Mare Per Terram, Gibraltar"

1897 Pattern Royal Marines Officer's Sword, George V period (1910-1936).

Marked with the Royal Marines motto "Per Mare, Per Terram" - By Sea, By land, and with their sole battle honour, Gibraltar.

The officer who owned the sword would have seen service in WW1. During the First World War, in addition to their usual stations aboard ship, Royal Marines were part of the Royal Naval Division which landed in Belgium in 1914 to help defend Antwerp and later took part in the amphibious landing at Gallipoli in 1915. Other Royal Marines acted as landing parties in the naval campaign against the Turkish fortifications in the Dardanelles before the Gallipoli landing. They were sent ashore to assess damage to Turkish fortifications after bombardment by British and French ships and, if necessary, to complete their destruction. The Royal Marines were the last to leave Gallipoli, replacing both British and French troops in a neatly planned and executed withdrawal from the beaches. The Royal Marines also took part in the Zeebrugge Raid in 1918.

Retailed by Humphreys & Crook Ltd. of 3 Haymarket, London.