1827 Rifle Officers' Pattern Wilkinson Sword 33877 Proved 3rd March 1896 for Henry Edward Green 2nd Scottish Rifles

The sword ordered in 1896 is a plain oval rifles sword with the standard blade etchings of this pattern sword save for the owners intials of G[reen H[enry]E[dward]in the cartouched panel. The sword was sharpened for active service which was undoubtably useful as Lieutenant Green was wounded in saving his great friend Lieutenant Arthur Wood at the Battle Spion Kop for which action he received the DSO in 1900.

Spion Kop 24th January 1900

2/Lieutenant Green is the back row, extreme right.

"The Scottish Rifles arrived at the summit of Spion Kop between 2.30 and 3 pm and were pushed into the firing line by companies, which had to move on to the plateau in single file along a narrow path down which the wounded were being carried. On reaching the plateau the two leading companies became hotly engaged at close range. Some men of the 2nd and 3rd companies then charged the opposing Boers in flank, in order to relieve the pressure on No 1, or A company. This was successful, the enemy retiring, but cost 1 officer and several men killed, and 3 officers and more men wounded. Gradually the battalion got extended, and by 4.40 pm had taken up a position across the summit. At one part, on the right, when the Scottish Rifles pushed forward, the original firing line had quite disappeared, and the Boers were where it should have been, and that within 60 yards of rocks which, if occupied by the Boers, would have enabled them to command our only approach to the plateau. Like other troops on the hill, the Scottish Rifles fought splendidly and held their ground marvellously well. Their losses on the day were very heavy. Four officers and 33 men were killed or died of their wounds; 6 officers and about 60 men were wounded. In his telegraphic despatch of 27th January 1900 General Buller says, "Our men fought with great gallantry, and I would specially mention the conduct of the 2nd Scottish Rifles and 3rd King's Royal Rifles, who supported the attack on the mountain from the steepest side, and in each case fought their way to the top, and the 2nd Lancashire Fusiliers and 2nd Middlesex, who magnificently maintained the best traditions of the British army; and Thorneycroft's Mounted Infantry, who fought throughout the day equally well alongside of them". When addressing the troops after the retirement the general especially mentioned the two rifle regiments. Mr Bennet Burleigh wrote, "Nothing could have been grander than the scaling of Spion Kop by the Scottish Rifles and 60th of glorious reputation".

HE Green 1876-1956

GREEN, HENRY EDWARD, Captain, was born 9 March 1876. He was educated at Beaumont and Sandhurst, and was gazetted to the Scottish Rifles 11 April 1896, becoming Lieutenant 11 July 1898. He served at Sierra Leone, 1898-99 (Medal with clasp). He again saw active service in the South African War, 1899-1902; became Captain in 1900, and was wounded. He was twice mentioned in Despatches; received the Queen's Medal with four clasps, the King's Medal with two clasps, and was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 27 September 1901]: "Henry Edward Green, Captain, Scottish Rifles. In recognition of services during the operations in South Africa". He was invested by the King 18 December 1902. Lieutenant Colonel H E Green was married and had a daughter.

The Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser, Tue 11 March 1913

Music-Hall Entertainers - Army Officer at Aldershot Hippodrome. The Aldershot correspondent of the "Standard" writes: It takes a soldier to entertain soldiers if one must go by the reception that the audience at the Aldershot Hippodrome last night gave to Captain Arthur Wood and Captain Henry Green, D.S.O., both of the Scottish Rifles, who, having retired from the Army, have gone on the music-halls as professional entertainers. Captain Arthur Wood, who is a son of the famous Field-Marshall Sir Evelyn Wood, V.C., is well known at Aldershot, and during his service there as A.D.C. to General Smith-Dorrien he frequently took part in an amateur performance for charity. It was his success as an amateur that encouraged him to take up music-hall work professionally. Captains Wood and Green must not be regarded as young soldiers suddenly enamoured of stage life. They are hardened veterans of the field. It is possibly the first time that the music-halls have been professionally invaded by officers of the British Army.

The Times, Major Henry Edward Green, 2nd Scottish Rifles and King's African Rifles 1876-1956

The Times, Wednesday July 4 1956. MAJOR H. E. GREEN Major Henry Edward Green, D.S.O., O.B.E., died recently in Funchal, Madeira, in his eighty-first year. He was born on March 19, 1876, the son of the Hon. John Philip Green, a Judge of the High Court, Bombay. He entered the Army, after attending Beaumont and Sandhurst, in 1896, served in Sierra Leone in 1898, and in the South African War. He was wounded at Spion Kop, twice mentioned in dispatches, was awarded the D.S.O., and the Queen's medal with four clasps. After service with the Cameronians, he transferred to the King's African Rifles in 1914. He fought in the East African and Nyasaland campaigns, in which he was again wounded and mentioned in dispatches. From 1924 to 1936 he was staff officer of the Nyasaland Volunteer Reserve and was appointed O.B.E. in 1930. He was an admirable painter and sculptor in wood, and designed the famous Nyasaland "Leopard" postage stamp. He had lived in Madeira since 1947. He married in 1913, Edith, daughter of Mr. Roger Cleveland, of Berkeley, California, who survives him. The MIC Card of Major Green.