British Victorian Era, Highland Officers Campaign Desk, Identified, 73rd Regiment of Foot, Perthshire Regt.
This item is listed for historical interest only. It was listed on our site previously but has been sold and is no longer available for purchase.
Sold for: $395.00

Original era manufacture. Black leather covered wooden folding desk, with gilt naming on the lid to Colin J.L. Halkett, 73rd Perthshire Regt, below the recessed brass carrying handle. The desk measures 12 x 9 x 4.5 inches when closed; open, it measures 12 x 19.5 x 3 inches. The interior displays several compartments for papers and envelopes, with two original inkwells and two bone-handled mechanical lead pencils.The desk is in overall very sound condition for its age, displaying wear to the leather surfaces near the hinge and bottom edge. Colin James Love Halkett 1858-1880, was commissioned into the 73rd Perthshire Regiment in 1879; joining the regiment then stationed in India in March of 1880.He, along with five other members of the 73rd, were killed in a landslide on the 18th of September 1880; while engaged in a working party attempting to rescue others buried in a previous landslide at Naini Tal India.  Their bodies, and those of the earlier victims, were never recovered.The 73rd Perthshire Regiment of Foot was raised in 1780, joining with the 42nd Foot in 1881 to become the Black Watch. In January 1852, a detachment of the 73rd (73 men) were enroute from Simon's Town to Port Elizabeth aboard the troopship HMS Birkenhead, when the Birkenhead struck rocks near Danger Point. The men were assembled on the deck of the sinking transport, remaining calm while the women and children were allowed to enter the lifeboats. Ordered not to swim to the boats for fear of upsetting the boatsinto the water and endangering the civilian passengers; the troops stood fast as the waters closed around them. Over 357 officers and men drowned during the incident.  Comes with an extensive research file on Lieutenant Halkett and the incident at Naini Tal.