1899 SCOTTISH SILVER QUAICH STAGS HEAD 1ST BATTALION GORDON HIGHLANDERS BOER WAR

An extremely RARE and historically significant SECOND BOER WAR PERIOD (1899-1902) Late Victorian SCOTTISH STERLING SILVER QUAICH hallmarked for EDINBURGH 1899 by the highly celebrated makers of Highland Regimental presentation Silver ROBERT & HENRY BRUCE KIRKWOOD of 66 & 68 THISTLE STREET, EDINBURGH. Engraved with:- “CAPTAIN EW BURNETT R.N.R FROM THE OFFICERS 1ST BATTALION GORDON HIGHLANDERS S.S CHESHIRE NOV 9TH - 29TH 1899” This inscription obviously is of the exact same year the Quaich was commissioned. A bit if history:- In November 1899 at the outbreak of the 2nd Boer War, the 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders departed from Edinburgh and travelled to Liverpool, where they embarked on the Troop Ship S.S. CHESHIRE on 9th November 1899 bound for South Africa. This stunning piece was present to Captain EW Burnett for the journey from the 9th to 29th November 1899 to commemorate their historic and safe passage to the front lines in South Africa. Captain Burnett was not an army officer, but rather a civilian shipmaster commanding the vessel. The S.S. CHESHIRE was modern passenger liner owned by BIBBY BROS & CO that was requisitioned by the British Admiralty in October 1899 to serve as Transport 43 for the 2nd Boer War. The 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders Officers included:- LIEUTENANT COLONEL GTF DOWNMAN - Commanding officer who was fatally wounded at MAGERSFONTEIN MAJOR HWD DENNE - 2nd in Command MAJOR CC MILLER-WALLNUT - Senior Company Commander - received DSO CAPTIAN ERNEST BEACHCROFT BECKWITH TOWSE - received VICTORIA CROSS CAPTAIN WE GORDON - received VICTORIA CROSS. And many more ……..Tragically within 2 weeks of stepping off the ship, nearly half the officers were casualties during the night march and battle at MAGERFONTEIN on Dec 11th 1899. This historic piece has STAGS HEAD LUGS/HANDLES with long sweeping Antlers, flanked by ivy foliate with “BYDAND” meaning “REMAINING or STEADFAST” which was adopted as the official Motto of the Gordon Highlanders. Measuring 14 cm across the handles and 9 cm bowl diameter, 5 cm high. A good weight of 227 grams. In very good condition. A few surface scratches, small dings and slight signs of wear commensurate of age and use.