A CUT ABOVE: GENERAL’S SWORD SELLS WELL
Falklands medal group breaks a record, and a general’s sword casts light on an overlooked British campaign
The Mameluke presentation sword gifted to a British general for his efforts in post-war Greece has gone under the hammer at Olympia Auctions
The sword was given to Lieutenant-General Sir Ronald Scobie in 1946 in recognition of his herculean efforts during the civil turmoil in post-war Greece. Scobie, a Burma-born Scottish rugby international who joined the Royal Engineers in February 1914, earned the MC and was twice Mentioned in Despatches during World War One. Ending the war as a captain, he filled staff roles before spending three years as a director at the Royal Military Academy, Australia, during which he was promoted to brevet lieutenant-colonel. In 1939, by then a full colonel, Scobie worked as an assistant adjutant-general at the War Office. He was soon made deputy director of mobilisation, at which he excelled. Scobie deployed to the Middle East in early 1940 as a deputy adjutant-general on General Wavell’s staff before being moved to Sudan. There, as a brigadier under General Platt, he helped plan the northern arm of the pincer that broke the It…
