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This sword belonged to Mr John Ashley Kilvert and was used by him during the Crimean War. His regiment, the 11th Hussars, was part of the famed 600 who took part in the Charge of the Light Brigade on October 25th 1854 at Balaclava. He was wounded at the battle and left in a ditch until nightfall, when he was discovered nearly frozen to death. He was taken to Scutari Hospital, where Florence Nightingale was in charge of the nursing staff.

He retired from the military, settled in Wednesbury, opened a pawn broker business and entered civic life. In 1905 he was elected Mayor of the town. He moved to a new residence naming it Balaclava House. He died in 1920 and is buried in the local Wood Green Cemetery, sharing his grave with his wife and son, who both died before him.