Lot 37
A PRESENTATION NAVAL OFFICERS SWORD (C-GUNNER ON PQ17)
A Royal Navy officers sword and scabbard, with sword knot and Gieves as suppliers. Engraved on the scabbard throat with, 'Presented by the ships company HMS Pozarica, 5th August 1941. Mr J H Creasey R N on the folding guard. Having an exceptionally clean 31.1/2" blade and good quality gilding to the guard and scabbard mounts.
HMS Pozarica was a Merchant Ship commandeered by the Royal Navy, then converted to an anti-aircraft Cruiser. One of the few survivors of the infamous PQ 17 Convoy, in July 1942.
Serving in the Royal Navy firstly as a boy, then through both wars to attain a Commissioned Rank of Gunner.
Mistakenly identified as Bill Creacy in the book by Godfrey Wiin, P Q 17. One of the 'Heavenly Gunner Twins', mentioned as 'dashing whose faces showed their thousands of sea voyages.' They had been shipmates on HMS Patroclus which sank after being hit by four torpedoes by U-99 on the 4th November 1940. Captained by the famous Otto Kretchsmer Knights Cross, she sunk two armed merchant Cruisers HMS Laurentic and Patroclus in the same attack. Considered by many to be one of the most famous U Boat actions of WW11.
Mentioned several times in the book, also a photograph of him with notation below.
HMS Pozarica was herself sunk off Algiers on convoy duty, after attacks by German and Italian Dive Bombers. Surviving the action it was some days later, that the ship went down suddenly on the 13th February.
Sold with various research and copied details, also a copy of PQ17.
See Illustration
