Antique sextant by Cary, London. No.3208.
ANTIQUE SEXTANT. No.56
Antique Sextant made by Cary, London. and previously owned by Captain N.V. Grace R.N ( Royal Navy ) - see below for his Naval career and history.
A fine late 19th century Royal Navy navigators Sextant, brass frame with 'T' frame design. Engraved on the arc Cary, London. No.3208
The silver scale is engraved from -5 degrees to 150 degrees and can measure angles up to 128 degrees, it is divided into 10 minute increments. The index arm has swinging scale magnifier, the silver Vernier scale reads from 0 to 10 seconds of arc.
This Sextant has a radius of 6.5 inches.
This antique Sextant is contained within its original hardwood box. It comes complete with two telescopes, spare telecope eye piece, two eye piece sun filters, screwdriver and mirror adjusting tool. The National Physical Laboratory examination certificate is dated 1910.
This antique Sextant and box is also engraved with the original owners name: N.V. Grace R.N ( Royal Navy ) and has quite some history:
Captain Norman Vere Grace, D.L. ( Born 31 July, 1894 – Passed 20 February, 1975) served in the Royal Navy and was the son of Edward Mills Grace, Esq., a coroner, physician and surgeon.
Upon passing out of the Training Establishment on 15 January, 1912, Midshipman Grace was appointed to the battleship H.M.S. ORION, where he remained until 13 July 1914, having been promoted to the rank of Acting Sub-Lieutenant on 15 May 1914. He then served in the pre-dreadnought H.M.S. IMPLACABLE until 19 April, 1916, being promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 15 December, 1915. He obtained his watchkeeping certificate on 15 May 1916 while on a brief appointment in the destroyer H.M.S FOYLE
Grace left H.M.S FOYLE on 29 June for an appointment aboard another, more modern destroyer H.M.S. LAWFORD, which was part of the Harwich Force's Ninth Destroyer Flotilla. He stayed aboard H.M.S. LAWFORD until March 1917, and participated in the Battle of Dover Strait on the night of October 26 & 27 1916.
Grace served in the new "R" Class destroyer H.M.S. SYBILLE from March 1917 through 8 May 1918, still being under Commander Scott in this posting. The new ship was part of the Tenth Destroyer Flotilla, but this was also a component of the Harwich Force.
In May 1918, Grace left H.M.S. SYBILLE and went to the torpedo training school H.M.S. VERNON to take the Long Torpedo Course. He went on to specialize in torpedo warfare and was awarded the Ogilvy Medal for the year 1919 for placing first in examinations to qualify as Lieutenant (T)
He was appointed as torpedo officer in the battleship H.M.S. AJAX in October, 1921. This would last until he was sent to undertake a two year staff position at H.M.S. VERNON in September 1922, during which he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 15 December, 1923.
From 1924 to 1929, Grace served as torpedo officer aboard H.M.S. QUEEN ELIZABETH and aboard the battlecruiser H.M.S.HOOD, Grace was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1929.
He commanded the sloop H.M.S. GRIMSBY from March 1934 and was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1937.
Other Naval appointments include: Deputy Director of Torpedoes 9 May, 1938 – 17 Aug, 1940 - Captain of H.M.S. ADVENTURE 18 Aug, 1940 – 12 Aug, 1942 - Commanding Officer, H.M.S. OSPREY 7 Dec, 1943 – 14 Jan, 1944 - Captain of H.M.S. BERWICK Jan, 1944 – 10 Aug, 1944 - Captain of H.M.S. VERNON 21 Sep, 1944 – early 1946.
On 2 January 1946 Grace was appointed Aide-de-Camp ( confidential assistant ) to the King. He was placed on the Retired List on 5 July, 1946.
