MOUNTBATTEN (Earl Louis, of Burma, 1900-1979, Admiral of the Fleet, Victoria's Great Grandson)

Fine Autograph Letter Signed to Captain J. Trevor LEAN, D.S.O., (1903-1961, Commanding HMS Manxman, 1951-1953, at this time the most senior Captain in the Royal Navy), returning "the fascinating photos [not present] ... of the German ship 'Mancksmann' in Cala Dueira", the cove in the NW tip of Gozo, "I showed them to Prince Philip & the staff & all were most interested ...", thanking him "for the ... delightful evening you gave us last Tuesday" and for "all your fine work on the station" and "as Commodore", and ending "All good luck to you in the future", 2 sides 4to, headed 'Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean', [Malta], 28th November

We think the staff christened the German ship 'Mancksmann' because of a close resemblance to Lean's ship Manxman. She was commissioned in 1941, played a distinguished role laying mines in WW2. In 1953 she appeared in the film Sailor of the King with enlarged funnels and mock gun-turrets as the German cruiser Essen.

Item Date:  1952

Stock No:  56727      £125

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