An unique piece of history, a military Sterling Silver Plate

[MDR75]

 

 

 

An Interesting item has come to hand.

Found locally, almost 7.8 pounds Sterling Silver historic plate given as a farewell gift from the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) and his primary staff to the retiring Chief of Staff, General Cortlandt V. R. (Van Rensselaer) Schuyler for his service from 1953 to 1959. Not uncommon in the day, marriages, births and departures all commentated in silver. This is one of the most impressive examples I have ever seen.

 

General Schuyler (December 22, 1900 – December 4, 1993) was a West Point Graduate Class of 1922 former Commander of the 28th Infantry Division and a key participant in the development of NATO.

 

As in so many of these period pieces, the signatures- true copies- of those honoring the individual are hand engraved into the plate.  I can make out several of six signatures and I believe there is one more that I’m working on; 

 

General Lauris Norstad, (USAF) Supreme Allied Commander Europe, and Commander in Chief, U.S. European Command.

 

General Leon W. Johnson, (USAF) Air Deputy Supreme Allied Commander, Medal of Honor for the attack on the Ploesti oil fields

 

Admiral Pierre Barjot (France), Naval Deputy

 

General Sir Richard Nelson "Windy" Gale, GCB, KBE, DSO, MC ( (UK) Deputy Supreme Allied Commander, Europe who commanded the 6th Airborne Division during the D-Day landings. He also commanded the 1st Allied Airborne Army.

 

General Jean E. Valluy (France), Commander-in-Chief Allied Forces Central Europe:
 

S.D Neill, Silversmiths Belfast and London with a hallmark date of 1902 so it was an old piece of silver before the SHAPE staff got it for the farewell gift.

 

Still researching.

Mike

[billl]

Great find. Thanks for sharing.

 

[GreenStar67]

Very neat item, don't see those everyday. Great find! Thanks for sharing

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cortlandt_V._R._Schuyler

[mikie]

Cool. I was raised in Schuyler NY, a town named after one of his ancestors, General Philip Schuyler.  The towns of Cortland and Rensselaer are not too far away also. All names rich in the history of New York State. 

Mikie