CAPT W.J.C. Robertson, RN, DSC

GUARANTEED ORIGINAL!

 Heath & Co., Ltd., New Eltham, London, S 658, Ca 1915

 

 

         

Presented is an antique quintant, serial number 658, all parts matching entirely throughout, with a classic "Bell" shape, MK III, frame made by Heath & Co., Ltd., New Eltham, London, Ca 1920. The quintant is in exceptional condition having been the property throughout the naval career of the CAPT Wilfrid JC Robertson, Royal Navy, DSC whose name is engraved on a brass plaque on the case's lid and on the right hand side of the instrument's arc. It comes complete with all its telescopes (3), a sighting tube, and all accessories, and except for a small screwdriver, nothing is missing. This is rarely found after all these years.

The polished arc and silver scale is calibrated -5 to 150 degrees making this a quintant not a sextant with a vernier scale reading from the right from 0 to 10 arc seconds in 2 second intervals. The sextant has three horizon shades and four index shades, all in good order. The instrument and it's accessories are housed in the fitted military style hard wood carrying case which has brass hinges and latches, campaign chest handle and engraved brass plaque on its top with the owners name. There is no key.

CASE DIMENSIONS: 10" L x 10 1/2" D" L x 5" H   INSTRUMENT WEIGHT 2 LBS 8 OZ TOTAL WEIGHT  9 1/2lbs

CAPT  ROBINSON, THE OWNER: After commanding the destroyer, HMS Walker, D27, Robertson joined the staff of Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleet as Staff Officer - Operations aboard the battleship HMS KING GEORGE V. He served in that capacity from 14 Jan 1940 through December, 1941. It was during this period that a plane from the aircraft carrier HMS ARK ROYAL hit the German battleship Bismarck's with a torpedo, jamming her rudders. Her inability to steer thereafter allowed the KING GEORGE and HMS RODNEY to bring her under fire on the morning of 27 May. She was sunk at 1041.

It was for his leadership in this action that then Commander Robertson was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross which is given for gallantry during active operations against the enemy at sea. It is Brittan's third highest award for gallantry against an armed enemy.

Three books about the sinking of the Bismarck mention Robertson. They are:

• "The Bismarck Episode" by Capt. Russell Grenfel, RN-MacMillan Company, 1949
• "Pursuit, The Chasing and Sinking of the Battleship Bismarck" by Ludovic Kennedy-Viking Press,1974
• "The Sinking of the Bismarck:The deadly Hunt" Sterling Publishing, 2006,  by William L. Shirir

Robertson was promoted to Captain in June 1942, and reported as Deputy Director of Operations Division (Home), Admiralty from 31 Aug 1942 until he assumed command of  the Royal Naval Air Station, in Fearn, Ross-shire, England. In December, 1946 he went back to sea as commanding officer of the cruiser, HMS Nigeria  and later served as Flag Captain. He retired in 1951 from active duty and died ten year later. How his sextant / quintant found its way to these shores is unknown.  

Horizon mirror in good condition

Index mirror in good condition

Adjustable telescope rising piece

Name plate on case

                             SCROLL DOWN TO GALLEY FOR MORE PICTURES

THE CERTIFICATE is the original issued by National Physical Laboratory in May 3, 1920. The non-adjustable instrument error is no greater that 20 arc seconds from 90 degrees through 120 degrees, the extent of the range measured.

THE INSTRUMENT'S CONDITION: The instrument, and all its hardware are all in exceptional condition including the two mirrors. The Boxwood handle has an ivory plate on its back for making notations. The index arm clamp, and swing arm magnifier are complete and in good working order. Everything is present and in good working order except for a missing screw driver. There is nothing to mark this sextant down except the polished frame has a few spots of tarnish, and there is an age crack on the bottom of the case. Except for this crack the military style case is in great shape. The instrument is in exceptional quality overall. The instrument has its original sighting tube, three telescopes, marked S 658, and two ocular lens caps, wrenches, and other small parts. All numbers match.

Rarely do you find an instrument from a historic person that is that is 95 years old in this well preserved original condition. A superior addition to any collection. 

WJC ROBERTSON'S SERVICE HISTORY IS FOUND AT http://unithistories.com/officers/RN_officersR.html#Robertson_WJC

Robertson, Wilfrid James Cameron 1903 ? - 15.07.1961 Westminster district [age 58]

A/S.Lt. 15.01.1922 S.Lt. 1923?, seniority 15.09.1922 Lt. 15.06.1924 Lt.Cdr. 15.06.1932 Cdr. 30.06.1936 Capt. 30.06.1942 (retd 31.03.1951) DSC 14.10.1941 Bismarck action [investiture 22.09.42] BWM 14|20 - - VM - - 39|45 St - - Atl St - - BWM 39|45 - - MID 11.07.1940 HM's birthday 40 Medals at the National Maritime Museum

... - ... ... 24.08.1939 - 06.01.1940 Commanding Officer, HMS Walker (destroyer) (1st Anti-Submarine Flotilla, Portland) 14.01.1940 - (12.1941) Staff Officer (Operations) to the Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleet [HMS King George V (battleship)] (08.1942) HMS King George V (battleship) * 31.08.1942 - (12.1943) Deputy Director of Operations Division (Home), Admiralty [HMS President] 02.1944 - (07.1945) Commanding Officer, HMS Owl (RN Air Station, Fearn, Ross-shire) 12.04.1946 - 10.1947 Commanding Officer, HMS Nigeria (cruiser) (later also Flag Captain)

DOES MY OPINION COUNT: We are one of the few company's still selling navigation instruments that know anything about them. For purposes of judging whether my opinion counts, I was the editor of the chapter on sextants of the 1977 Edition of "Bowditch", The American Practical Navigator, NAVPUB 9; a member of the U.S. Naval Academy Navigation Symposium Board, 1975 -1978; the author of a book on marine sextants, Cornell Maritime Press,1975, and the founding president of Nautech Maritime Corporation which partnered with Tamaya of Japan in the introduction of the MS 733 Spica, the MS 833, Jupiter, MS 933 Venus sextants and the famous NC-2 navigation computer, in the U.S. market. I also am a retired Master Mariner, and held a U.S. Navy "D" Qualification as a Senior Skipper - Oceans. From 1995 until 2001, I served as a Varsity Offshore Coach at the U.S. Naval Academy.

 

 

 

OUR UNCONDITIONAL NO NONSENSE GUARANTEE: If not completely satisfied with your purchase it may be returned, if without damage, within three days of receipt in its original packaging. Return items must be insured for their full value. Only a prior email authorization by us for the return is required. Shipping charges are  included in this offer if the error is due to our fault.

International buyers welcome, but must inquire first. We have satisfied customers in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Denmark, Estonia, England, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Latvia, Malaysia, Martinique, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Nova Scotia, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, USVI and the Eastern Caribbean. 

ACCEPTED FORMS OF PAYMENT are Bank wire transfer, cashier's check, money order, or personal check in which case the item will be held until cleared. No checks from overseas buyers, no credit cards or PayPal accepted on this item. 

This quintant / sextant is an outstanding example of an elegant bell framed model and rates 5 Stars 

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