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Pre-WWI Fore & Aft Hat

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:400.00 USD Estimated At:800.00 - 1,200.00 USD
Pre-WWI Fore & Aft Hat
Auction Location:

16600 Aston Street
Irvine, CA
Pre-WWI Fore & Aft Hat, with gold Lieut. epaulets, dress belt, buckle, and sword hangers, all contained in their original leather hat box marked ''T.A.P./U.S.N.'', belonging to Ensign Timothy Allen Parker, the Executive Officer on board the U.S. Submarine USS (F-4) Skate. During submarine maneuvers off Honolulu, Hawaii, on 25 March 1915, she sank to a depth of 306 feet approx. 1-1/2 miles from Pearl Harbor. All 21 members of her crew perished making the F-4 the first commissioned U.S. submarine to be lost at sea. On 29 August 1915, the Navy set an engineering precedent by raising the submarine. Many diving records were set as Navy divers descended to attach cables to pull the boat into shallower waters. Only four of the dead could be identified; the 17 others were buried at Arlington National Cemetery. In 1940 the remains of the F-4 were buried as fill in a trench off the submarine base at Pearl Harbor. The F-4 was the first ship in the U.S. Navy named for the Sk!
ate, and many followed. Parker is listed as the 2nd in Command under Lt. Alfred L. Ede. At this time in the history of the submarine fleet, and due to its inherent riskiness, higher ranking officers usually avoided this hazardous career choice. It is interesting to note that Frank William Crilley, Chief Gunner's Mate and Master Diver, USN, was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor after descending to the wreck of the Skate to free one of his fellow divers whose air line had been entangled in part of the wreck during the rescue and salvage operations. Condition: Hat remains in excellent condition showing very little use, with leather sweatband intact and minor discoloration to the gold ribbon where it comes in contact with the maroon interior of leather hat box. Compartment in bottom portion of hat box contains extra gold cord, celluloid and pearl collar stiffener, and original keys to lock on exterior of box. Additionally included are two pre-WWI standard Ensign sh!
oulder boards, marked ''Best Gold/B. Pasquale Co./San Francisc!
o, Cal.'
'; epaulets are marked ''A.H. Shing & Co./No. 16, Water Street/Army and Navy Tailors/Yokohama, Japan'' (Ensign Parker had individually marked the nickel-plated keepers ''left'' and ''right''). Belt shows little use. Exterior of hat box with separation at hinge, loss to ends of retaining straps, moderate general overall scuffing, with black stenciled/painted monogram showing approx. 70% vivid paint remaining. A fine and very scarce artifact from the earliest days of U.S. silent service. Est.: $800-$1,200.