Description:

SUB-LT. HAL LAWRENCE PEAKED SERVICE CAP AND SWEATER WORN AS HE BOARDED U-94
Important lot of two items attributed as having been worn by Royal Navy officer Hal Lawrence in his historic boarding of the crippled U-94 on August 28, 1942. Included in the lot is Lawrence's black wool peaked officer's cap with wire and cloth insignia affixed to a hat band, the maker indicated within as William Scully Ltd. of Montreal. The reverse of the leather sweatband has been marked with a fountain pen: "H E T LAWRENCE, together with Lawrence's sweater, a khaki cotton, with tan black felt, gold ribbon and leather-backed slip-on shoulder tabs, the undersides stenciled: "Goode's Portsmouth Ltd, Naval Outfitters". Both pieces are in very good condition. Provenance: TIME-LIFE Collection; The War Museum, New York.
On Aug. 28, 1942, in the company of American warships and the corvettes HMS HALIFAX and SNOWBERRY, HMS OAKVILLE was escorting a convoy off Haiti when she attacked U-94. OAKVILLE dropped depth charges to force it to surface, and after bombarding it, rammed the submarine twice. Sub-Lieutenant Hal Lawrence and Petty Officer A.J. Powell leapt onto the deck of the crippled U-94 and headed below. Lawrence went searching for intelligence but the sub had already been prepared for scuttling and was sinking quickly. Lawrence escaped the conning tower just as the vessel sank, and was saved along with Powell and 19 German sailors. He would be awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his gallantry.

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March 17, 2016 10:30 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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