Colonel George Bingham (Lord), 5th Earl of Lucan’s Leather Clad Campaign Writing Slope
(c1888-1914)
Colonel George Charles Bingham, 5th Earl of Lucan, 1st Baron Bingham, GCVO, KBE, CB, TD, PC, DL (13 December 1860 – 20 April 1949), known by the courtesy title of Lord Bingham from 1888 to 1914, was a British soldier and Conservative politician. (His sister Rosalind Hamilton, Duchess of Abercorn, was a paternal great-grandmother of Diana, Princess of Wales)
Lucan was commissioned into the Rifle Brigade in 1881 & fought in the Bechuanaland Expedition (1884–1885). He first retired with the rank of captain in 1896 but in 1900 he joined the 1st London Rifle Volunteers as a major, rising to the rank of colonel. He fought again in WW1, during which he was mentioned in despatches.
Lucan was also for eighteen months, a Member of Parliament (MP) for the Chertsey constituency in Surrey & as a peer sat in the House of Lords, serving under David Lloyd George, Bonar Law and Stanley Baldwin as a Lord-in-Waiting (a government whip in the House of Lords) from 1920 to 1924 and under Baldwin from 1924 to 1929. In that year, he was also appointed as Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms, a post he held until the government fell later that year. He held it again in the National Government from 1931 to 1940.
He received many honours during his life including in 1885, the Order of the Nile, 3rd Class. During WW1, he was awarded by Nicholas II of Russia the Order of St. Stanislas of Russia, 2nd class. Lucan was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath (C.B.) in 1919 and a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (K.B.E.) in the 1920 civilian war honours list. He was also awarded the Territorial Decoration (T.D.) in 1920 and from that same year until 1928, he was one of the King's aides-de-camp, a ceremonial honour awarded to military figures which entitles the recipient to wear aiguillettes.
Lucan died in 1949 while staying at the Cavendish Hotel in Eastbourne.
The black leather clad campaign writing slope, is in remarkable condition with some wear to the exterior commensurate with its age. The exterior lock/key works well with the interior in great condition with a plethora of compartments, sprung loaded letter rack, ink well & pens and the original page turner. All the hinges are solid and the exterior has gilt banding framing a solid brass cartouche engraved with Col “L” Bingham (small L for Lord) and has gilt worn initials and a recessed brass handle to the top. (12” x 9” x 6” closed)
Great piece of historical military & peerage furniture…….definitely one of a kind!
£1250
Local delivery, U.K & international shipping available with collections welcome too
