The sword of Leuitenant Colonel Laurence F. Garratt, born in 1893 commissioned as an officer at the age of twenty in 1913 and within two years was already a decorated veteran of the Battle of the Somme, enduring intense hardships with little time away from the front as whilst being a part of a field and siege artillery unit was under the guns of the enemy and even within range of small arms and charge attacks. From 1915 to 1917 there was almost constant fighting and in 1918 he served in Italy, earning more distinction till the end of the Great War. This sword then travelled with Garratt to India and was Mentioned in Dispatches during the Third Anglo-Afghan War before serving during a relatively peaceful time with only minor actions until at the age of forty six he was called to Europe at the outset of World War Two. Taking part in the invasion of Europe as an officer of the BEF in the 51st Highland Battalion and being one of the final defenders of St Valery in which over ten thousand British soldiers were taken prisoner he spent much of the war in the Oflag VII-C Prison Camp, being released with the German surrender bringing the end to WW2 in Europe.
To read more of the story of Lt. Col. Garrat here is the link to my article on him:
The swod has been silver plated and repaired as it was hung on the wall by Garratt until his passing in 1967. This sword can be yours for £700 or best offer.
Comments