Barr & Stroud Binoculars belonging to Admiral of the Fleet James Fownes Somerville

Of Royal Navy Interest. Binoculars belonging to Admiral of the Fleet James Fownes Somerville GCB GBE DSO DL. The case has a metal plaque stating “Admiral James F Somerville, Commander in Chief Eastern Fleet”.

James Somerville (1882-1949 served throughout WW1 and WW2 when he was in charge of the fleet when ordered to destroy the French Fleet to stop it falling into German hands. The French fleet was then at Mers El Kebir in Algeria. He was commended by Churchill for achieving this. He was involved in planning the Dunkirk evacuations. He was involved in the hunt for the German Battleship Bismarck and from 1942-1944 Admiral Commanding the Eastern Fleet engaged with the Japanese Imperial Fleet with mixed results, but with some success from 1944. Following retirement he became Lord Lieutenant of Somerset, living in the family seat of Dinder House. The Binoculars are Barr & Stroud 10x magnification and are in excellent condition - as is the leather case.