The sword belonged to Allastair McReady-Diarmid, who was awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously after he died fighting in the Battle of Cambrai 100 years ago.
Headmaster Alun Watkins said the offer of the gift came out of the blue in an email from Peter Freedman, a collector of military memorabilia who lives in Sydney, Australia.
‘The school has always had a strong history of military service and it is great to receive this sword that remembers somebody who is held in such high esteem, as he received the highest military honour,’ Mr Watkins said.
Captain McReady-Diarmid – who was known as Arthur McReady-Drew when he was a boy – was born on 21 March 1888. He was the third of four sons of H Leslie McReady-Drew and his Jersey-born mother, Fannie.
As well as attending Victoria College – which named one of its school houses in his honour following his bravery – he was mainly educated in the UK.
In his email, Mr Freedman explained that he bought the sword at an auction for $6,000 Australian dollars and discovered the connection to the school after researching its original owner.
‘I came across Victoria College and was excited to see there was a house named after this great man,’ he wrote.
‘I would like to offer the sword to the school and I do hope you will be in a position to accept my offer, as I cannot think of a better perpetual custodian of this very significant piece of history.’
Leading his company in an attack on enemy lines, on 17 November 1917, Captain McReady-Diarmid was credited with killing or wounding 94 Germans. He died in a bomb explosion and his remains were never found.
