Printed from Woolley & Wallis

Description

A British 1846 pattern Royal Navy officer's sword with possible attribution to a decorated officer, etched blade, the back named to 'ALISTAIR ANGUS MARTIN', gilt-brass hilt with fouled anchor to the cartouche, lion head pommel with mane extending the full length of the back strap, with sword knot and in its gilt-brass mounted leather scabbard.

Alister Angus Martin of North Shields was an officer of the Royal Navy Reserve, multiply decorated for gallantry in mine sweepers in the Second World War. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross in the New Years Honours of 1941, a second award bar in December 1943 for mine sweeping in H.M.S. Rothsay as part of Operation Antidote, and a third award bar for service in the same ship during Operation Dragoon. He was furthermore awarded the Distinguished Service Order in 1945 for operations in Greek waters while attached to H.M.S. Fabius. The spelling of the first name on this sword is at variance with the spelling in most official references to this officer, but it agrees with the spelling in the London Gazette of the 7th of December 1943 in which his second D.S.O. was announced.