THE LLOYDS PATRIOTIC FUND was originally established as the Patriotic Fund and first met on the 28th July 1803 at Lloyd’s Coffee House, Tower Street, in the City of London. Its previous role was to raise money for military casualties of the British Army and Navy and by 1804, it had raised the enormous sum of £174,000 (around £15 million in today’s money). This had been acquired from donations throughout the growing British Empire. With this amount of money the Fund was able to help both casualties’ families but also reward naval officers who had distinguished themselves with “successful exertions of value or merit”.
These rewards included a sum of money, a piece of silverware or a decorated sword. The contract for making the swords was given to Richard Teed of Lancaster Court, Strand, London, a noted sword maker who specialised in producing swords for senior officers.
There were three types of swords that were awarded:
£100 – awarded to Commanders and Naval Captains.
£50 – awarded to Naval Lieutenants and Royal Marine Captains
£30 – awarded to Midshipmen, Marine Lieutenants and Masters’ Mates.
The design of the swords followed a set pattern with a gilt brass stirrup hilt and knucklebow in the form of a club of Hercules entwined by a snake and quillons in the style of Roman fasces. Langets have acanthus-leafed decoration and applied naval motifs and trophies. The hilt backpiece takes the form of a Nemean lion skin. Grips are made from finely chequered ivory.
Blades are of a type seen on the British 1796 Pattern Light Cavalry Officer’s Sword and feature extensive decoration and a large presentation panel detailing the action in which the officer’s bravery and courage qualified him for a Lloyds Patriotic Fund Sword.
Scabbards vary in ornateness according to the value of the sword, with the £100 sword featuring engraved mounts with oval cartouches depicting various Labours of Hercules. They are also lined with blue velvet. The £30 sword has a scabbard of shagreen covered wood with gilt mounts. Each sword was presented in a wooden case with bullion sword belt and knot, the elaborateness of which was reflected in the original monetary value assigned to it.
© Harvey Withers Military Publishing, 2024