Enquire
To enquire about this item please enter your details below and we will contact you shortly.
(Your details will not be shared with any third parties)
Royal Scots Fusiliers Grenade Cigar Lighter, 1945
Measurements: Overall: 12.5cm (4.75in)
SOLD
Silver. In the form of a spherical flaming grenade with with wick rising from the flambeau finial from a fuel reservoir within. Engraved with the crowned thistle encircled by the motto of the Order of the Thistle. On an ebonised base applied with a silver plaque inscribed ‘Presented to / Brigadier E.W. D. Vaughan / D.S.O., M.C., A.D.C., I.A. / From All Ranks / 1st Bn The Royal Scots Fusiliers / 1945-1947.’
Brigadier Edward William Drummond Vaughan, C.B., D.S.O., M.C. (1894–1953) was commissioned into the 2nd Lancers (Gardner's Horse), Indian Army and was decorated for gallantry in the advance on Damascus in 1918. During the Second World War he commanded the 3rd Indian Motor Brigade was captured at Mechili in April 1941. Vaughan's Indian cavalry gallantly repulsed many attacks, but was eventually overwhelmed, leading Vaughan to surrender to Rommel in person, who was leading his main armoured division. Along with other officers taken prisoner in North Afric, Vaighan ended up in Campo P.G. 12 Vincigliata, with other high-ranking British and Commonwealth officers, including Major-General Sir Adrian Carton de Wiart. In the camp he was known as 'Rudolph', becoming staff officer and efficiently running the prison camp for over two years; every one took their troubles to him. Vaughan's bathroom in the castle became an observation post during the escape tunnelling. He escaped with other officers during the Italian Armistice in September 1943. After time in the Italian countryside he successfully reached the Allied lines in May 1944. Later the same year he became Commanding Officer Delhi Area, India, and from 1945 to 1948 was A.D.C. to George VI.