AN HISTORICALLY INTERESTING PAIR OF 7 X 50 NAVAL BINOCULARS FORMALLY OWNED BY ADMIRAL SIR CECIL HARCOURT

signed in the backplate Barr & Stroud 7x C.F.30, Glasgow and London / C.H.J.Harcourt, complete with neck strap and contained within original fitted leather case of issue, the lid embossed with Harcourt's initials -- 10.5in. (27cm.) high

Admiral Sir Cecil Halliday Jepson Harcourt GBE KCB (1892-1959) saw action in both World Wars and, from September 1945 to June 1946, was the de facto governor of Hong Kong. He was appointed Director of the Admiralty Operations division in 1939; in 1941 was Flag Captain of the Home Fleet aboard the Duke of York and between 1942-44 was involved in the North Africa Campaign culminating in the landings at Salerno. However, his fame was secured when he took the surrender of the Japanese forces (under Vice-Admiral Fujita and Lieutenant-General Tanaka) in Hong Kong and then remained there until a civilian Government could be restored. He was a sensitive administrator, and was called by the Chinese name Ha Kok, a reference to a distinguished fourth-century Chinese nobleman Chung Kok. He was knighted in 1945 (KCB), was promoted vice-admiral in 1946, and awarded the grand cordon of the Chinese order of the Cloud and Banner. He retired in 1952.