A Very Rare Original Order of the Bath and Envelope of the Military Division of the Second Class or Knights Commander to Sir Charles Trollope. Dated 1873 and signed by Queen Victoria.

UK, 1873. First Edition . Paper. Good. 48mo - over 3 - 4" tall. A Very Rare Original Order of the Bath and Envelope of the Military Division of the Second Class or Knights Commander to Sir Charles Trollope. Dated 1873 and signed by Queen Victoria. The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by King George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from an elaborate medieval ceremony for preparing a candidate to receive his knighthood, of which ritual bathing (as a symbol of purification) was an element. While not all knights went through such an elaborate ceremony, knights so created were known as 'knights of the Bath', and likely from the upper classes to begin with. George I constituted the Knights of the Bath as a regular 'Military Order'. Condition is very good. Size is 325mm x 200mm. Usual folding creases. General Sir Charles Trollope, K.G.B. KCB (21 October 1808 - 5 July 1888) Charles Trollope the younger son of Sir John Trollope of Casewick, Lincolnshire and second cousin to the writer Anthony Trollope. He entered the army as Ensign in the 17th Regiment of Foot in 1825. In 1826, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, and he was appointed to a Lieutenancy in 36th Regiment in 1827. In 1830 he embarked for the West Indies, where he served till 1838. He proceeded with the regiment to New Brunswick, North America, and served there till 1839. On 1843, he was promoted to a major in the regiment, and in 1846, he was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel in command of the Reserve Battalion, with which he embarked for the Ionian Islands on 2nd January 1847. While in command of this Battalion he commanded the troops in the Island of Cephalonia in 1848-49-50. In August 1848, the towns of Argostoli and Lixuri were attacked by armed banditti, who were repulsed by the troops with loss on both sides. In 1849, the island was disturbed by armed insurgents. Martial law was proclaimed, which remained in force six weeks, and was carried into effect by him. Received the thanks of the Queen and of the Legislature of the islands and was voted a sword of honour by the inhabitants of Cephalonia. The Reserve Battalion having been consolidated with the 1st Battalion in Corfu, in April 1850, Colonel Trollope embarked at Cephalonia in March 1851. In 1852, he was transferred as Lieutenant-Colonel to the command of 62nd Foot and was promoted Brevet-Colonel in 1854. He served in the Crimea Eastern Campaign until July 1855, as Colonel and commanded the 1st Brigade, 2nd Division. In the same year he was gazetted Brigadier-General, and commanded the 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, from that date until the army was broken up. In 1856 to 1861 he commanded the brigade in Canada. He became Major General in1861 Colonel 53rd Regiment of Foot 1868, Lieutenant General 1871 and General in The Land Forces in 1877, He retired in 1878. Trollope was married twice. Firstly, to Frances Lord who died in 1862. Secondly to Cordelia Murray who survived him, dying in 1909. Their son Colonel Francis Charles Trollope was an early ballooning and aviation pioneer. There is a memorial to Trollope at St Michael and All Angels' Church at Uffington in Lincolnshire. More images can be taken upon request. Ref18583