A Miniature Campaign Chest
SOLD
MINIATURE CAMPAIGN CHEST OF DRAWERS BEARING AN ENGRAVED PLAQUE INSCRIBED LEICESTER CURZON RIFLE BRIGADE
England Mid 19th Century
Likely to have been presented to Leicester Curzon after his service in the Crimean War.
Measurements: height 13” (33cm) width 12 ½” (32cm) depth 6” (15cm)
This exquisite brass bound Chest of two short and three long drawers with inset handles and Bramah locks is constructed of well- chosen mahogany with the fiddle back variety carefully selected to enhance the drawer fronts. The Chest stands on four delicately turned feet.
Lieutenant General Hon. Sir Leicester Smyth nee Curzon-Howe KCB KCMG 1829.-1891. British Army Officer, Colonial Administrator and Governor of Gibraltar
He was commissioned in the Rifle Brigade in 1845. He served in the Basuto war of 1852 and distinguished himself in the action Berea on the 20th December. He commanded one of two companies which scaled almost inaccessible heights under fire and drove a large force of Sotho before them. He was highly praised in despatches.
He was appointed aide-de-camp to Lord Raglan and was present at Alma and Inkerman and throughout the siege of Sevastopol. He continued to serve in the Crimea until 1856 as aide-de-camp to General Codrington
He was made Assistant Military Secretary in the Ionian Islands in 1856, Military Secretary in Ireland in 1865 and Deputy Quartermaster in 1872.
In 1877 he became General Officer Commanding Western District and in 1880 GOC Cape Colony. He was acting High Commissioner for Southern Africa from 1882 to 1883, GOC Southern District 1889-1890 and Governor of Gibraltar 1890-1891
In 1866 he married Alicia Maria Eliza Smyth and adopted his wife’s maiden name in lieu of his own and quartered the Smyth arms with the arms of Curzon-Howe.
