The Jolly Roger flag made on HMS Unbroken in WWII that is going under the hammer at a Duke’s sale to be held at The Tank Museum in Bovington, Dorset.
A unique Jolly Roger flag made by submariners on the legendary HMS Unbroken during World War Two is to go under the hammer at auction.
The sailors added stars, canons and bars relating to the number of ships they’d sunk, and daggers showing how many ‘cloak and dagger’ operations they had completed.
The crew of HMS Unbroken with the Jolly Roger. Fred Sharp is identified on the image.
This rare flag has been consigned by the family of Petty Officer Fred Sharp DSM, who served on the boat.
Fred Sharp wearing his medals
The tradition of creating Jolly Roger flags on submarines began in WWI after First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Arthur Wilson claimed the vessels were ‘underhanded, unfair and damned un-English’.
He added that the crews ought to be hanged as pirates.
The tradition continued in WWII and now these flags are incredibly rare with the one on sale offered with an estimate of up to £10,000.
It is going under the hammer at The Tank Museum in Bovington, Dorset, in a militaria auction organised by Duke’s of Dorchester on May 14.
The museum is hosting the sale and all lots have been sourced by Duke’s.
Interpreting the flag shows that HMS Unbroken sank four merchant ships with the deck gun as well as sending ten others and two warships to the seabed.
She also completed four ‘cloak and dagger’ operations which included dropping off Captain Peter Churchill DSO in Antibes, France, in 1941.
He returned that evening with a French resistance leader, Francois d’Astier de La Vigerie – codename ‘Bernard’ – who was then taken to England.
‘Bernard’ went on to support General Eisenhower in preparations for the invasion of France.
In 1942 Unbroken again dropped off Churchill in France; he was by this time a member of the Special Operations Executive (SOE).
With him was Edward Zeff, a wireless operator whose job it was to assist the French resistance.
Fred Sharp was fortunate to survive the war because before joining Unbroken he was drafted from three submarines before they were sunk.
The book ‘Unbroken, the story of a submarine’ dedicated to Petty Officer Sharp by the author and sub’s captain, which is to go under the hammer at The Tank Museum in a Duke’s of Dorchester sale. The photos include one with the crew holding a Jolly Roger flag that is also up for auction.
Julian Smith, the militaria expert at Duke’s of Dorchester, said: “This is an astonishing relic of the war that has come direct from the family who live in Weymouth.
“The Jolly Roger flags were created by the submariners to keep a record of their successes – and they were flown from the boats.
“HMS Unbroken spent most of the war in the Mediterranean where she caused havoc for the enemy.
“She also attacked a railway line on the Italian mainland but suffered damage by return fire and had to be repaired in Malta.
“As well as sinking a number of merchant and naval ships, she took part in a series of clandestine operations.
“Dropping off saboteurs and picking them up from occupied France was a high-risk act of derring-do but under her captain, Lt Cdr Alastair Mars DSO, DSC and Bar, she prevailed.
“Churchill and Zeff who were inserted into France were both later captured, tortured and sent to concentration camps – but astonishingly both survived, even Jewish Zeff.
“Peter Churchill’s exploits were later portrayed by Trevor Howard in the 1950 film ‘Odette’.
“The sale also includes a book about the history of HMS Unbroken written by her captain, Lt Cdr Mars, which he dedicated to Petty Officer Sharp.
“We also have some never-before-seen photographs and one of the crew holding the Jolly Roger.
“There will be a lot of interest in this flag and we’d love it to go to a museum.”
The book ‘Unbroken, the story of a submarine’ dedicated to Petty Officer Sharp by the author and sub’s captain, which is to go under the hammer at The Tank Museum in a Duke’s of Dorchester sale. The photo shows the crew with a Jolly Roger flag that is also up for auction.
Unbroken, a U-class sub, was launched in 1941 and went to join the 10th Flotilla in the Mediterranean.
In 1944 she was loaned to the Soviets who returned her in 1949 and the following year Unbroken was broken up.
Gordon Sharp, Fred’s grandson, said: “My grandfather didn’t really talk about the war and it was only around 15 years ago after he died that we found out what he had done.
Fred with grandson Gordon
“He was the one who actually made the Jolly Roger flag, which was the reason he got to keep it. He just used bits of material on board to create it.
“After the war he ran a pub in the Wyke Regis area of Weymouth, which was fittingly called The Mermaid.
Fred and wife Rosie behind the bar of The Mermaid in Weymouth
“He was a man who enjoyed socialising, loved a whisky and his family was extremely important to him.
Fred and wife Rosie
“We now feel the time is right to sell these items and hope perhaps they might be bought by a museum.”
A photo of a submarine that is part of the HMS Unbroken lot
An L-class sub. The postcard is part of the HMS Unknown lot
A photo of HMS Unbroken and her crew
The sale also includes other superb lots including a DSO group of medals that belonged to Lt Col Henry Pleydell-Railston of the 1st Rifle Brigade.
His heroic actions at Hannebeck in May 1915 were immortalised in the book ‘Deeds that Thrill the Empire.’
Also under the hammer is the collection of the late Lance Corporal Dennis Jones, which includes a variety of helmets, uniforms, bayonets, headdresses, a military Land Rover and a B31 motorbike.
The collection also includes a ‘Green Goddess’, a military fire engine in impeccable condition.
Rosanna Dean, Visitor Experience General Manager from The Tank Museum said: “We’re pleased to be hosting our second militaria auction with Duke’s, who are offering a unique set of items for a military enthusiast audience.
“As with our exhibits it is the stories that surround the items that fascinate and intrigue us – and they remind us of the heroism and sacrifice of those who served.”
For more information contact Ed Baker at Deep South Media on 07788392965
About The Tank Museum
The Tank Museum (Bovington, UK) brings the story of tanks and their crews to life, with what is arguably the world’s finest collection of tanks displayed in awe-inspiring, modern exhibitions.
The museum houses some 300 tanks, representing the key battles of every major conflict since the First World War. Our moving exhibitions tell the story of this British invention; from the mud of the Somme, to the beaches of Normandy and the deserts of Iraq – featuring powerful stories from the soldiers that fought in them.
Highlights include the immersive Trench Experience and The Tank Story Hall – featuring key exhibits such as the first ever tank, the modern Challenger 2 and the notorious Tiger tank. New for 2020 is a major Second World War exhibition; “World War Two: War Stories”.
The Tank Museum is a registered charity and the museum of The Royal Tank Regiment and The Royal Armoured Corps.
Find out more: tankmuseum.org
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