THERE is perhaps not much linking Meifod and the legendary Italian emancipator Guiseppe Garibaldi.

However such had been Garibaldi’s respect for an English comrade, the village had, for a time been home to his sword and a gold bracelet and locket containing his hair and that of his wife, Anita.

The gifts had been passed onto a Meifod resident, known as Harriet Luxmoore, the daughter of Colonel William Chambers, who had fought alongside Garibaldi in wars against Austria and the Bourbons in the unification of Italy in 1860.

Chambers and Garibaldi had been friends and upon the end of the war, the Italian presented his English comrade his sword and blood stained blanket he had carried off the field of battle in Aspromonte.

Garibaldi visited his friend in Britain where he received a warm welcome.

So much so Garibaldi is reported to have said: "If ever England should be so circumstanced as to require the help of an ally, cursed be the Italian who would not step forward with me in her defence.’

Colonel Chambers was granted the citizenship of Rome after gifting the items to new state of Italy and in return given the golden brooch and locket containing the hair of Garibaldi and his wife.

He was presented a hirlas horn of the Welsh Black breed by the ladies of the Vale of Clwyd.

This was left by Garibaldi to Colonel Chambers upon his death in1882 and would be passed down to his daughter who had lived at the White House in Meifod.

It is now when myth and fact merge.

The so called Garibaldi Sword became part of the ceremonies at the Gorsedd and Powys Eisteddfod and in 1920 Earl Haig visited the Eisteddfod in Meifod when the former Commander-in-Chief of the British Army was left impressed upon hearing he had touched such a weapon.

In actual fact the sword had been Colonel Chambers’.

However Mrs Luxmoore had worn the hirlas horn gifted to Garibaldi years before and passed on to her by her father.

The horn would eventually end up in Rome.

Upon Mrs Luxmoore’s death, her cousin, Lady Newborough gave the horn to Benito Mussolini - an ironic fate for the gift which had meant to symbolise peace between countries who would soon be at war.