Auction Catalogue

25 & 26 March 2013

Starting at 12:00 PM

.

Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Washington Mayfair Hotel  London  W1J 5HE

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Lot

№ 1043

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26 March 2013

Hammer Price:
£90

Pair: Sub-Lieutenant H. L. Carslake, Royal Navy

British War and Victory Medals (S. Lt., R.N.) mounted as worn; together with a mounted pair of miniature dress medals, nearly extremely fine (4) £80-100

Henry Leigh Carslake (possibly a descendant of a Carslake who served alongside Nelson) served in the Great War as a Sub-Lieutenant in the Royal Navy. In 1926 having attained the rank of Lieutenant, he was serving as a Naval Observer in the newly formed Fleet Air Arm on board the aircraft carrier H.M.S. Eagle. As such he effected a rescue at sea on 19 April 1926 and was subsequently awarded the Royal Humane Society Medal in bronze for his actions (R.H.S. case no. 48,276.).

Lieutenant Carslake died in an aeroplane crash at sea off Malta on 21 October 1926. In the following year, in memory of their son, his parents founded the Henry Leigh Carslake Prize. The National Maritime Museum has a large medallion commemorating the flying accident in which he died.

The Henry Leigh Carslake Prize was awarded annually to the Naval Officer Supplementary List Officer, or Special Duties Officer serving as Observer and who, in the opinion of the Admiralty, submitted the best essay on a subject specially set by the Admiralty in each year and dealing with the work and development of the Fleet Air Arm. Officers serving as Observers and Officers of the Commonwealth Navies were eligible to receive this Prize. The Prize consisted of a silver medal, together with a sum of money for the purchase of books and instruments.