Basket-hilted sword, Pattern 1865, presented to Major General Sir Herbert Taylor Macpherson VC, 1882

Presentation sword by John Septimus Pillin retailed by Ferguson and Macbean, Inverness, Scotland. The blade is inscribed with the dedication and battle honours, and has a silver gilt hilt marked with the maker's name. The sword was presented to Macpherson by the people of the town of Inverness on his return from Egypt, 26 December 1882.

Lieutenant General Sir Herbert Taylor Macpherson (1827-1886) received the Victoria Cross when serving as a lieutenant with the 78th (Highland) Regiment of Foot (Ross-shire Buffs). The gallantry award was in recognition of his actions at the city of Lucknow on 25 September 1857, when he and his men captured two brass 9-pounders at bayonet point.

Macpherson commanded the 1st Brigade of the 1st Division during the 2nd Afghan War (1878-1880). He went on to command the Indian contingent in the Egyptian War (1882) but died of fever during the 3rd Burma War in 1886 and was buried in Rangoon.