HHSM's Sword Diary and Photo c.1889 2nd Battalion, The Durham Light Infantry

This sword was made by Wilkinsons on 13th November 1889 for HHS Morant, 2nd Battalion, The Durham Light Infantry. The sword is an ordinary 1845 Pattern Infantry Sword with the intails of HHMS inside a banner. No Regimental or Corps insignia is present on the sword save for the VR cypher and the legend of Henry Wilkinson, Pall Mall, London.

The Times, Monday 23rd September 1946

BRIG.-GENERAL H. H. S. MORANT Brigadier-General Hubert Horatio Shirley Morant, D.S.O., a veteran of the Nile campaign of 1898, died at his home near Hexham on Friday at the age of 75. Born on December 27, 1870, he was educated at Charterhouse and Sandhurst. He was gazetted in The Durham Light Infantry and served with the Egyptian Army from 1898 to 1908. For his part in the Nile campaign he was mentioned in dispatches and decorated with the Order of Osmanieh and Medjidieh. He raised and commanded the 10th Battalion of The Durham Light Infantry in the 1914-18 was and on promotion to brigadier-general he commanded the 3rd and, later the 147th Infantry Brigades. Wounded four times, he received the D.S.O. In 1919 he reverted to his regiment and, until 1923, commanded the 1st Battalion. He retired in 1927, having since 1924 commanded the Territorial Northumberland Infantry Brigade. In 1937 he received the honour of appointment as Colonel of his old regiment.

Horatio Morant 1870-1946

Born 27th December 1870 son of Lieutenant General Horatio Harbord Morant of Blendworth Lodge Horndean,Hants by his wife Katherine Selena, only daughter of Francis Alexander Sydenham Locke of Rowdeford Wiltshire. He was educated at Weymouth College, Charterhouse and Sandhurst.He married on December 5th 1914, his wife was Isabella Helen daughter of John Coppin-Straker of Stagshaw House Corbridge. Military Career;- 2nd Lieutenant DLI 16th October 1889;- Lieutenant 19th November 1892;-Captain 9th August 1899;-Major 23 May 1910;-Temp Lieutenant Colonel 10th DLI 19th August 1914 to 28th January 1918;- Lieut Colonel 7th January 1919;- To Half Pay List 7th January 1923 until May 7th 1924;- Resumed Full Pay 7th May 1924;-Retired with the rank of (Hon) Brigadier General 27th December 1927.Appointed (Hon) Colonel of 5th DLI (TA) Northumberland Fusiliers on the 6th October1928 until 31st January 1938;-Appointed Colonel The Durham Light Infantry 14th September 1937 until 12th April 1940. Additional;- attached to Egyptian Army from the 9th March 1898 until 28th March 1908;-Commander 3rd Infantry Brigade(France temp Brigadier General) from the 4th September 1918 until 30th March 1919. Commanded the 2 DLI 7th January 1919-28th April 1919;- 1st DLI 29th April 1919 to 6th January 1923;-Brigade Commander Northumberland Brigade (TA) Northern Command 7th May 1924 to 26th December 1927. He served in Kitchener's Sudan campaign in 1898 and was present at Atbara and the capture and defence of Gaderef. He was mentioned in despatches announced in the London Gazette on 9th December 1898 and awarded the Queens Sudan Medal, Khedive's Sudan Medal with Clasps, Order of the Medjidie 4th Class,Order of Osmanieh 4th Class. Served in the European War raised and commanded 10th Service Battalion DLI served the following periods in France and Belgium 21 May1915-24th Aug 1915;-5th March 1916-5th June 1918;-29th August 1918-11November 1918 wounded on four occasions mentioned in despatches on four occasions.Died at the Hermitage,Hexham,Northumberland on the 20th September 1946. (My thanks to Mr.Harry Brook and Mr. James Treadwell for the above information on Morant.)