Dirk, made after 1856, which belonged to Admiral Leonard Andrew Boyd Donaldson (1875-1956). The hilt of the dirk consists of a gilt crosspiece with inversed quillons with acorn ends. In the centre on the obverse of the crosspiece is a crown and foul anchor motif surrounded by a laurel wreath. There is a small catch in the centre of the reverse side of the crosspiece to engage in the groove in the top locket. The dirk has a lion's-head pommel and back-piece. The white fish-skin grip is bound with three gilt wires. The straight steel blade is flat-backed to within 100mm of double-edged spear point. The blade was once damascened but the blueing is now much worn. The obverse of the blade is engraved with a central tablet which is decorated with a crown over the Royal cypher 'VR', with a gilt honeysuckle motif above and below. The reverse of the blade is decorated in the same way as the obverse, except there is foul anchor motif in place of the Royal cypher. The black leather scabbard has a gilt locket with two rings, and a chape. These are ornamented with threads and scrolls. The chape is also decorated with a honeysuckle motif.

Admiral Leonard Andrew Boyd Donaldson (1875-1956) was born in 1875 and he became a Naval Cadet on the 15th January 1890. He was promoted to the rank of Midshipman on the 15th July 1892; to Sub-Lieutenant on the 15th January 1896; to Lieutenant on the 30th June 1898; to Commander on the 31st December 1909; to Captain on the 31st December 1914; to Rear-Admiral on the 2nd March 1926; to Vice-Admiral on the 23rd May 1930; to Admiral on the 8th May 1935 and he died on the 28th June 1955. Admiral Leonard Andrew Boyd Donaldson's son, Rear-Admiral Vernon D'Arcy Donaldson, presented the dirk to the National Maritime Museum. Rear-Admiral Vernon D'Arcy became a Midshipman on the 10th January 1924 and was promoted to the rank of Sub-Lieutenant on the 15th November 1926; to Lieutenant on the 15th December 1927; to Lieutenant-Commander on the 31st December 1939 and to the rank of Captain on the 31st December 1944. He was Aide de Camp in 1954 and retired in April 1956. Whilst retired he became an acting Rear-Admiral, but was listed as Captain in the retired lists.