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HMS ‘Saracen’ 32. A BELL FROM H.M. SUBMARINE SARACEN, 1942


of typical form, the front inscribed in black-filled lettering P.247 1942, the reverse with the broad arrow mark, complete with clapper and sally, the bell -- 11 x 11in. (28 x 28cm.)


HMS Saracen was built at Cammell Laird and launched on 16th February 1942. Her original designation was to have been P213 but there was resistance against having an unlucky ‘13’ in the number, so she became P247 - which still added up to 13. She was named Saracen in January 1943 and issued with a named bell (this lot, which has many strike marks, becoming redundant). Her short career started auspiciously when she sank U335 in the North Sea on 3rd August 1942 - one of the two survivors died when he refused to be rescued. Latterly she sank the Italian submarine Granito, the sub-chaser Maria Angelette and several axis merchantmen and convoys. Her end came on 14th August 1943 when, cruising off Bastia, Italy, she was spotted by the Italian corvettes Minerva and Euterpe who promptly depth-charged her. Forced to the surface, her crew evacuated and scuttled her to prevent capture. More recently in September 2008 the families of crewmen from Saracen were invited to Corsica to witness the unveiling of a memorial to British secret agents who helped establish the Corsican Resistance, and to the submarine that landed them, Saracen. A plaque commemorating her already existed in the fortress at Bastia, where the crew were taken after her sinking.


£1500-2000 33.


A NINE CARAT GOLD SOUVENIR BROOCH FOR H.M. SUBMARINE K5


modelled in a waterline starboard profile, the superstructure enamelled ‘K5’, impressed ‘9C’ behind hinge -- 2½in. (6.4cm.) diameter; 6.6gr.


Built in 1917, the K5 was one of a class of seventeen steam-driven submarines designed to cruise at 24 knots to keep up with the Grand Fleet. The challenge of steam propulsion in such craft was never fully mastered and the whole class was bedevilled by a litany of problems until they were scrapped in 1931. K5 disappeared, with all 51 hands, on exercise in the Bay of Biscay on 20th January 1920. From wreckage floating at the scene, it was assumed she had exceeded her maximum depth and was crushed.


£150-250 34.


A PRESENTATION SILVER LAUNCHING SALVER FOR H.M.S. PLUCKY, 1943


with pie-crust border, engraved to centre H.M.S. “Plucky” / Built by / Harland and Wolff Limited / Belfast / named by Mrs. F. Quin / 29th September 1943, Chester hallmarks for 1919-20 -- 11in. (28cm.) diameter


A minesweeper of 850 tons, Plucky served at Normandy and in Burma in the War, and survived until 1962.


£250-400


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33 additional images online at www.charlesmillerltd.com 13


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