description
Object description
presentation sword with scabbard and sword knot
History note
Association - event: this sword was the gift of the City of Damascus to the British Army on the occasion of the evacuation of British troops fromSyria in April 1946. General Sir Bernard Paget, Commander-in-Chief, Middle East Forces accepted the sword on behalf of the British Army at the hands ofShukri-el-Kuwatli Bey, President of the Syrian Republic. The Commander- in-Chief asked the President to convey the thanks of the British Army to the City of Damascus for its beautiful present which he said, would be treasured for all time as a reminder of the hospitality and kindness shown to the British Army by the people of Syria during the period the British Army was privileged to serve there
History note
A silver plate, from the box, inscribed in Arabic is still associated with the weapon. The text on the plate is translated as "The gift of the Cityof Damascus to the British Army"