Presentation sword which belonged to Admiral of the Fleet the Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope (1883-1963). The hilt has a fluted silver cross-piece with slightly up-turned quillons which taper towards their ends, a polished, smooth, silver grip with the stripes of an Admiral of the Fleet in gilt at the top and a small gilt band with laurel leaf decoration immediately above the pommel. The pommel is of frosted silver finish and is trefoil in shape, the centre part being pointed, and on either side in raised and pierced relief, it bears the Arms of the City of London. The edge of the pommel is outlined in gold.

The blade is straight, double-edged and of near uniform taper to the point; two grooves, 15.5 inches, converge slightly from their start 1.5 inches below the shoulder (itself 1 inch long) Engraved on the obverse between the grooves is 'GUILDHALL - 12th. JUNE 1946 PRESENTED WITH THE FREEDOM OF THE CITY BY THE CORPORATION OF LONDON. ' Between the grooves on the reverse is engraved 'TO ADMIRAL OF THE FLEET THE RT. HON. THE VISCOUNT CUNNINGHAM OF HYNDHOPE, K.T., G.C.B., D.S.O., IN RECOGNITION OF HIS DISTINGUISHED AND VALUABLE SERVICES DURING THE LATE WAR.' There is a gilded Proof mark signed H W (Wilkinson) The scabbard is light green shagreen with four silver lockets and a silver chape, each with a frosted panel and decorated with lines. The top locket has a gold throat and a minature representation, in gold, of the owner's shoulder badges of rank ( a laurel wreath with batons in saltire, the Royal Cypher of King George VI, (as an A.D.C.) and the Tudor Crown, Each of the other lockets and the chape have miniature pairs of anchors in saltire (they are in gilt metal) and the tip of the chape has a silver knob in place of a shoe.

This sword is in the style of the knightly swords of the Middle Ages and is purely a presentation piece as no means of suspension are fitted and it cannot be worn. It is dated 1946 as that was the date of presentation, each separate piece of silver is marked as having been made by Mappin and Webb (in 1945/6?) The style of the decoration is pronouncedly nautical and closely related to Admiral Cunningham's rank. The cypher of King George VI is stylised, however and does not conform to the official pattern being shown as GYR instead. The sword is kept in a green leather case lined with buff chamois leather also made by Mappin and Webb. The sword was commissioned by the Worshipful Co. of Goldsmiths & designed by R.G. Boxendale.

Career of Admiral Cunningham - Born 7 Jan 1883; entered Navy Jan 1897; Midshipman 15 June 1898. After service in South Africa he was promoted to Acting Sub-L in Jan 1902. He was promoted to Lieut. 31 Jan 1904; 4 years later, began a succession of commands of Torpedo Boat Destroyer. For the whole of the War (1914-18) he commanded the H.M.S. SCORPION, a destroyer, mainly in the Mediterranean being present at Gallipoli 1915. L.Commander 1912; Commander 1915; Captain Jan 1920. He went on to command of the 6th Destroyer Flotilla in 1922 & in Mar 1926 was appointed Flag Captain to the C-in-C America and West Indies Station; R.Adml, 24 Sep 1932; V.Adm, Jul 1936. Commander in Chief , 9 May 1939. After Italy entered the war, his duties expanded greatly and in Nov 1940, he launched an attack by aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm on Taranto. Promoted Admiral 1941 and fought the battle of Matapan the same year. Adm of the Fleet and First Sea Lord 1943. See also dirk WPN1060.