THE National Maritime Museum in Falmouth has acquired a sword of such national importance that The Arts Fund, Victoria and Albert Museum Purchase Grant Fund, and a private donor, all provided funding to secure it for the museum.

The MacDonnell sword commemorates a tragic moment in maritime history when a British Royal Navy ship fought with a merchant vessel. A case of today's modern terminology of "friendly fire" which resulted in loss of life and a great number of severely wounded.

On March 12, 1814, the Falmouth Packet ship, the Duke of Marlborough, captained by Falmouth's famous Packet captain, John Bull, was carrying its usual goods of passengers, dispatches, mail and bullion en route to Lisbon when it encountered the Naval frigate the Primrose. The protocol for identification failed for whatever reason, and in a known haunt of French privateers off Cape Finistere, both ships assumed the other vessel was an enemy privateer and a heavy battle ensued.

The Primrose, complete with a crew of 125 naval men and 19 guns, fought with the Duke of Marlborough's 30 men and six to 10 small cannons. Ably supported by Master William Macdonnell and crew, Captain John Bull once again proved his dogged obstinacy and true grit. Incredibly there was just one passenger killed and 11 men wounded on the Packet ship, with the Royal Navy ship, the Primrose, suffering the death of three men and 12 injured.

Not since the two swords were presented to Bull and MacDonnell in 1814 by grateful passengers have they been reunited, until now. The MacDonnell sword will stand alongside Bull's sword in the museum's Falmouth Packet gallery later in the summer.

Jo Warburton, curator of National Maritime Museum Cornwall, said: "The MacDonnell sword represents so much about the Falmouth Packet ships and helps us to tell the story of their courage and importance in Britain's maritime heritage. The acquisition is part of our expansion of the Falmouth Packet ship gallery."