General Sir William Riddell Birdwood

General Sir William Riddell Birdwood, GCMG, KCB, KCMG, KCSI, CSI, CIE, CB, DSO, DSM (1865-1951). Commander of the ANZACS at Gallipoli. (Later: Field Marshal W. R. Birdwood, 1st Baron Birdwood, GCB, GCSI, GCVO)

This unique, dedicated gold-mounted Macassar wood presentation cane has recently come to light in the Cotswold Hills (Gloucestershire, England) where his family made their home after the Great War (1914-18).

This presentation cane is 89cm in length and mounted with a 15carat hallmarked gold band, maker’s mark JWB. Inscribed: To GENERAL SIR W. R. BIRDWOOD. DRAGON SLAYER. FROM ROYAL SOCIETY of St. GEORGE, QUEENSLAND. 1920.

This unique walking stick is one of very few artefacts with a GALLIPOLI connection to have survived that horrendous period in history.

MACASSAR is a rare form of Ebony and is difficult to source.

Birdwood gave the Anzacs their name, was known as the ‘Soul of Anzac,’ coined the term ‘Digger’ and got every remaining soldier off the peninsula without a single loss of life. To quote Charles Bean, war correspondent, Birdwood “possessed the quality, which went straight to the heart of Australians, of extreme personal courage.”

The present owner is hoping that it will find a permanent and safe home in Australia or New Zealand. Perhaps as a gift from a patriot?

ENDS

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