A George V 1912 Pattern Cavalry Officer's sword by Wilkinson, named to G.F Boles (Sir Gerald Fortescue Boles, 17th/21st Lancers)
blade with serial number 49142
blade etched for the first half of its length with scrolls and arabesques surrounding King George V's crown and cypher, a panel nearer the hilt etched with the owner's name 'G. F. Boles', three-quarter basket hilt, shagreen covered semi-pistol grip with wire binding, carved and engraved pommel, blade length 89cm, with scabbard and field service cover also bearing initials.

Notes: Captain Sir Gerald Fortesque Boles appears to have joined as an officer with the 17th Lancers in 1920. However, the serial number on this blade dates manufacture to around 1915. It could, therefore, have been a blade originally intended for or owned by his brother, Hastings Fortescue Boles, who also served with the 17th Lancers but was killed in 1915. Sir Gerald was also sadly later killed in action during a Luftwaffe bombing raid in Bari (South-Eastern Italy) on 9th April 1945.

He was the son of Lt.-Col. Sir Dennis Fortescue Boles, C.B.E., D.L., J.P., 1st Bt., and Lady (Beatrice Ringrose) Boles, of Bishop's Lydeard, Somerset and husband of Lady (Violet Blanche Hall) Boles, of Kingston, Somerset.