Physical description

Diver's underwater compass used by British Royal Navy clearance divers during World War ll. Originally issued to ex-RN demolition diver (frogman), PO Leslie Wade, service number RJX 162991 of the Landing Craft Obstacle Clearance Unit (LCOCU), 1939 to 1945.

Wade participated in the 'Operation Overlord' D Day landing at 'Juno' Beach, Normandy, France on the 6th June, 1944, in the early hours of the morning prior to the Canadian Army task force landing. Wade was with the LCOCU team tasked with clearing anti landing craft obstacles which were destroyed by placing explosive demolition charges. note: at some stage during the day Wade was wounded by enemy mortar fire and successfully evacuated to England for treatment.

This compass is a large round prismatic type compass in a substantial watertight housing designed to be worn on the lower arm (wrist area). There is a thick leather two piece strap for attaching to the arm.

The compass is presumably oil filled with a rotating disc marked with the numerals 2 to 34 in mirror image characters. The compass reading is viewed through a prismatic lens attached over the fixed heading marker.

Inscriptions & markings

The rotating disc is marked with the usual compass markings of "N, E, S, W". The disc is marked in five degree divisions with mirror image numerals indicating the "2nd to 34th" major divisions.
The circular bezel surrounding the compass viewing glass is stamped "Patt 251, No 177D"