STB008 This is stunning Sinking Of Scharnhorst collectors official limited Benham Battle Of North Cape first day cover hand signed by Sir Henry Leach where the signature rests perfectly accompanying the special hand commemorative franks. This comes with full lifetime COA as the signing has been officially certified by the publishers with full hallmarking and authenticity of the series further detailed in absolute brand new mint condition. You wont source better.
Admiral of the Fleet Sir Henry Conyers Leach, GCB, DL (18 November 1923 26 April 2011) was a Royal Navy officer and Veteran Of WW2 who, as First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff during the early 1980s, was instrumental in convincing the British prime minister Margaret Thatcher that retaking the Falkland Islands from Argentina was feasible. On account of the determination he showed in the matter, journalist and political commentator Andrew Marr described him as Thatcher's "knight in shining gold braid"
While in Singapore, Prince of Wales was sunk by the Japanese off Singapore, and Leach's father died in this action. His obituary in The Daily Telegraph noted that survivors of the action remembered a forlorn midshipman searching for his father, who was among those lost. Only two nights earlier, Leach and his father had enjoyed a gin sling and a swim." His next post was on the destroyer HMS Sardonyx before being promoted to sub-lieutenant on 1 October 1942 and posted to HMS Duke of York, the flagship of the Home Fleet, in January 1943.
Leach was promoted to lieutenant in October 1943. Leach was in command of the "A" turret and he was involved in the Battle of the North Cape in December 1943. In autumn 1944, he was posted to HMS Javelin as the navigating officer. During his posting on Javelin, a mutiny broke out whilst Leach was the duty officer: he "conducted himself well under difficult circumstances" and, after the mutiny was put down, the captain and first lieutenant were re-appointed. Leach was given the position as first lieutenant and the ship was transformed within a few weeks
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