SAVOY HOTEL London, England. Located near the Thames River. Site of 1955 "coming out" party celebrating the new L2A3 government contract. The Sterling sponsored event was attended by Government officials and military attaches from around the world.
Internal company memo sent to David Howroyd announcing the upcoming party and requesting his attendance. "Cocktails at 6:00 pm, be there at 5:30". Never before published document provided by Mr. Howroyd.
Local newspaper story describing the big event.
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1956- The first 5000 Sterlings go to Iraq
In the summer of 1958, King Hussein of Jordan asked for Iraqi military assistance during the escalating Lebanon crisis. Units of the Iraqi Army under the command of Abdul Karim Kassim, en route to Jordan, chose to march on Bagdhad instead, where they mounted a coup d'etat on July 14, 1958. The royal guard was ordered to offer no resistance, and Faisal himself surrendered to the insurgents. Around 8AM, a Captain leading the revolutionary assault group at the palace, ordered the king, a crown prince, two princesses and several servants into the palace courtyard. Here they were told to turn towards the wall, where they were immediately sub machine-gunned by their mutinous captors. Faisal, who had not died during the initial fusillade, was transported to a hospital, but died en-route. Thus ending Iraq's Monarchy.
Far RIGHT: General Abdul
Karim Kassim
armed with a Sterling inside
the palace. After
assuming power in the coup,
he was overthrown
and executed by military and
civilian members
of the Ba'ath
Party in 1963.
Company document provided courtesy of David Howroyd
To fullfill requirements of the Iraqi contract, Kenton Redgrave, Managing Director of Sterling, calls for ramping up production of guns, magazines and spare parts.
"We must achieve..." 300 guns per week!
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Photos courtesy of David Howroyd
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By 1972, James Edmiston purchased the company and diversified production even further. He writes of his experiences at the helm in The Sterling Years. A difficult to find book, but very well worth the effort. Check Amazon.com for new and used copies.
1974 Jaguar XJ6 Mk2
Sterling produced subcomponents
for the air conditioning system.
Delanair, maker of the air
distribution assembly was
quite pleased with Sterlings'customer
service and ability to manufacture.
Provided courtesy of David Howroyd
click on picture
to expand then click again
click on picture
to expand then click again
The Guest List- Attendance was marked by numerous British government and military officials along with representatives from banking, finance, & legal concerns. Industry competitors included Fabrique Nationale and the Enfield Chief of Design . Rhodesia,Nyasaland (Northern Rhodesia), New Zealand, Iraq, Burma, Canada, Israel, & Argentina sent military advisors. The press covered the new SMG's introduction as well.
Sterling's Home Trade Show booth in early 1960's London, featuring wall mount heating systems. Both electric and hot water versions.
