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**ONLY CAPTAIN TO HAVE BEEN SUNK BY U BOAT IN WW1 & WW2**Mancheter Liners Ltd Solid Sterling Silver Salver (47 Troy Ozs) Presented to Captain F.D. Struss DSC OBE 1954 For 47 Years Of Unblemished Service With Book ‘Manchester Ship Canal By Edward Gray. - MISC 889 Manchester Liners was a cargo and passenger shipping company founded in 1898, based in Manchester, England. The line pioneered the regular passage of ocean-going vessels along the Manchester Ship Canal. Its main sphere of operation was the transatlantic shipping trade, but the company also operated services to the Mediterranean. All of the line's vessels were registered in the Port of Manchester, and many were lost to enemy action during the First and Second World Wars. On 4 June 1917 the second Manchester Trader, en route from Souda Bay in Crete to Algiers, was engaged in a running battle with U-boat U 65 before she was captured and sunk near Pantellaria island, with the loss of one crewmember. The master, Captain F. D. Struss, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross . Capt Struss remarkably survived another sinking in the Second World War when on 25 February 1943 the Manchester Merchant, became involved in Operation Torch as a supply ship to North Africa, she was torpedoed by "U 628" while part of an outbound Atlantic convoy; 36 of the crew of 65 including gunners were lost, but Captain Struss again survived, and received the OBE. Capt Struss went on to complete 47 years service with the line. On his retirement on 30th June 1954 he was presented with this solid silver salver by the ML for 47 years unblemished service. The salver is 14 ½” diameter has a scalloped decorative edge and 3 decorative feet. The salver has hammered decoration around its engraved presentation panel (illustrated). The salver has 47 Troy Ozs of sterling silver. It has sterling silver hallmarks and manufacturer marks of Walker & Hall Sheffield. A book accompanying the salver titled Manchester Ship Canal by Edward Gray contains many photos and descriptions of the Canal’s history of transport Section 9 contains information regarding the ML. The soft cover book has 125 pages. The pricefor this interesting piece to the only British captain to have been sunk by U-Boats in both WW1 and WW2 includes UK delivery. MISC 889
£1,595.00
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