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City of London Presentation Sword
City of London presentation sword owned by Admiral of the Fleet Sir D. Beatty (1871-1936). The hilt includes a gold (18 carat, hallmarked) half-basket guard with embossed scroll work and crown and anchor badge within a laurel wreath, and a lion's-head pommel. The gold grip is embossed (obverse) with a figure of Britannia and (reverse) with a figure of Peace. A sword-knot is attached.
The blade is a straight Wilkinson type with a broad groove running to within 280mm of the point. It is etched with relevant emblems and an inscription. The dark blue leather scabbard has two 18ct gold lockets with rings, and a chape with an ornamental shoe, all embossed with relevant emblems. The obverse of the blade is inscribed with a proofmark 'P' within a Star of David, oak leaves, monogram 'DB', rose leaves, crossed flags (ensign and St George), thistle, 'GUILDHALL JUNE 12th 1919. PRESENTED WITH THE FREEDOM OF THE CITY, BY THE CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF LONDON TO ADMIRAL SIR DAVID BEATTY, G.C.B., G.C.V.O., D.S.O., COMMANDING GRAND FLEET, IN TESTIMONY OF ITS HIGH APPRECIATION OF THE INVALUABLE SERVICES RENDERED BY HIM TO HIS KING AND COUNTRY DURING THE GREAT WAR, BY WHICH UNDYING GLORY HAS BEEN REFLECTED ON THE IMPERIAL FORCES OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE.' 'HELIGOLAND NORTH SEA JUTLAND' (on scrolls), rose leaves, airship, shamrocks, torpedo, oak leaves and acorns spray.
On the obverse of the scabbard the top locket is embossed with oak leaves and acorns, City of London arms enamelled embossed crossed laurel branches, monogram 'DB' in rubies (D) and diamonds (B), and a hallmark. On the reverse of the top locket is the enamelled coat of arms of Beatty and his motto 'NON VI SEO ARTE'. The mid-locket has an embossed laurel branch with anchor above and three enamelled scrolls across it bearing the names of the battles - 'HELIGOLAND NORTH SEA JUTLAND'. The chape has an embossed Tudor rose, enamelled Star of the Order of the Bath, embossed shamrock, Tudor rose, thistle, enamelled Star of the Royal Victorian Order, embossed thistle, and a shell design.
David Beatty, 1st Earl Beatty (1871-1936) GCB OM GCVO DSO, Admiral of the Fleet. Entered the Navy in 1884; became a Commander in 1898; a Rear-Admiral in 1910; a Vice-Admiral in 1915; an Admiral in 1919 and an Admiral of the Fleet in 1919.
The blade is a straight Wilkinson type with a broad groove running to within 280mm of the point. It is etched with relevant emblems and an inscription. The dark blue leather scabbard has two 18ct gold lockets with rings, and a chape with an ornamental shoe, all embossed with relevant emblems. The obverse of the blade is inscribed with a proofmark 'P' within a Star of David, oak leaves, monogram 'DB', rose leaves, crossed flags (ensign and St George), thistle, 'GUILDHALL JUNE 12th 1919. PRESENTED WITH THE FREEDOM OF THE CITY, BY THE CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF LONDON TO ADMIRAL SIR DAVID BEATTY, G.C.B., G.C.V.O., D.S.O., COMMANDING GRAND FLEET, IN TESTIMONY OF ITS HIGH APPRECIATION OF THE INVALUABLE SERVICES RENDERED BY HIM TO HIS KING AND COUNTRY DURING THE GREAT WAR, BY WHICH UNDYING GLORY HAS BEEN REFLECTED ON THE IMPERIAL FORCES OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE.' 'HELIGOLAND NORTH SEA JUTLAND' (on scrolls), rose leaves, airship, shamrocks, torpedo, oak leaves and acorns spray.
On the obverse of the scabbard the top locket is embossed with oak leaves and acorns, City of London arms enamelled embossed crossed laurel branches, monogram 'DB' in rubies (D) and diamonds (B), and a hallmark. On the reverse of the top locket is the enamelled coat of arms of Beatty and his motto 'NON VI SEO ARTE'. The mid-locket has an embossed laurel branch with anchor above and three enamelled scrolls across it bearing the names of the battles - 'HELIGOLAND NORTH SEA JUTLAND'. The chape has an embossed Tudor rose, enamelled Star of the Order of the Bath, embossed shamrock, Tudor rose, thistle, enamelled Star of the Royal Victorian Order, embossed thistle, and a shell design.
David Beatty, 1st Earl Beatty (1871-1936) GCB OM GCVO DSO, Admiral of the Fleet. Entered the Navy in 1884; became a Commander in 1898; a Rear-Admiral in 1910; a Vice-Admiral in 1915; an Admiral in 1919 and an Admiral of the Fleet in 1919.
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Object Details
| ID: | WPN1581 |
|---|---|
| Collection: | Weapons |
| Type: | City of London Presentation Sword |
| Display location: | Display - Voyagers |
| Creator: | Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Co Ltd |
| Date made: | 1919 |
| Exhibition: | Voyagers |
| People: | City of London; Beatty, David Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Co Ltd |
| Credit: | National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, Earl Beatty Collection. Purchased with the assistance of the National Heritage Memorial Fund, 1983. |
| Measurements: | Overall: 930 x 110 x 83 mm |
| Parts: | City of London Presentation Sword |