27th Oct, 2010 12:00
Maritime and Scientific Models, Instruments & Art (Audacious)
116
[M] AN HISTORICALLY INTERESTING TREADPLATE FROM...
AN HISTORICALLY INTERESTING TREADPLATE FROM H.M.S. KELVIN, USED BY WINSTON CHURCHILL TO VIEW THE D-DAY LANDINGS AT JUNO BEACH, 12TH JUNE, 1944
cast in brass and impressed with name, the reverse inscribed in punch stamps: THE RT. HON. WINSTON CHURCHILL, MP, PRIME MINISTER, STEPPED ON THIS TREADPLATE AS HE BOARDED H.M.S. KELVIN TO VIEW THE D-DAY ASSAULT AREA, JUNO, ON 12TH JUNE 1944 -- 12 x 28in. (30.5 x 71cm.)
One of five K-class Destroyers laid down in 1937-38, Kelvin (F37) was built by the Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company Ltd, at Govan in Scotland, launched on 19 January 1939 and commissioned on 27 November 1939. Named for the famous compass and instrument maker William Thompson, Lord Kelvin (1824-1907), she displaced 1,600 tons and measured 339ft 6in by 35ft 8in. with a 13ft 8in. draft. Powered by two Parson's geared turbines developing 40,000shp, she could make 36 knots. Like her more famous sister Kelly, she had a very active wartime career and served with distinction in several theatres gaining battle honours for Atlantic (1940); Spartivento (1940); Crete (1941); Mediterranean (1941-43); Sirte (1942); Malta Convoys (1942); Normandy (1944) and the Aegean (1944). It was whilst serving in Normandy that she took Churchill and other VIPs to witness Operation Overlord first hand. Churchill had been keen to witness the First Wave of the D-Day assault, but had been persuaded that it was too dangerous. Thus it fell to Kelvin to play host six days after the initial bridgeheads had been secured. Having viewed the action from the bridge of Kelvin, he then went and inspected German defences destroyed by the Royal Navy. Kelvin was broken up at Troon in 1949, and although it is not known when the inscription to the reverse of this plate was done, it seems likely that, as they are typical of ships' punches, it was done shortly after his famous visit. Until recently, the treadplate was being used as a step in a flower bed.
cast in brass and impressed with name, the reverse inscribed in punch stamps: THE RT. HON. WINSTON CHURCHILL, MP, PRIME MINISTER, STEPPED ON THIS TREADPLATE AS HE BOARDED H.M.S. KELVIN TO VIEW THE D-DAY ASSAULT AREA, JUNO, ON 12TH JUNE 1944 -- 12 x 28in. (30.5 x 71cm.)
One of five K-class Destroyers laid down in 1937-38, Kelvin (F37) was built by the Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company Ltd, at Govan in Scotland, launched on 19 January 1939 and commissioned on 27 November 1939. Named for the famous compass and instrument maker William Thompson, Lord Kelvin (1824-1907), she displaced 1,600 tons and measured 339ft 6in by 35ft 8in. with a 13ft 8in. draft. Powered by two Parson's geared turbines developing 40,000shp, she could make 36 knots. Like her more famous sister Kelly, she had a very active wartime career and served with distinction in several theatres gaining battle honours for Atlantic (1940); Spartivento (1940); Crete (1941); Mediterranean (1941-43); Sirte (1942); Malta Convoys (1942); Normandy (1944) and the Aegean (1944). It was whilst serving in Normandy that she took Churchill and other VIPs to witness Operation Overlord first hand. Churchill had been keen to witness the First Wave of the D-Day assault, but had been persuaded that it was too dangerous. Thus it fell to Kelvin to play host six days after the initial bridgeheads had been secured. Having viewed the action from the bridge of Kelvin, he then went and inspected German defences destroyed by the Royal Navy. Kelvin was broken up at Troon in 1949, and although it is not known when the inscription to the reverse of this plate was done, it seems likely that, as they are typical of ships' punches, it was done shortly after his famous visit. Until recently, the treadplate was being used as a step in a flower bed.
Sold for £1,984
Estimated at £1,200 - £1,800
(inc. buyer's premium of 24%)
AN HISTORICALLY INTERESTING TREADPLATE FROM H.M.S. KELVIN, USED BY WINSTON CHURCHILL TO VIEW THE D-DAY LANDINGS AT JUNO BEACH, 12TH JUNE, 1944
cast in brass and impressed with name, the reverse inscribed in punch stamps: THE RT. HON. WINSTON CHURCHILL, MP, PRIME MINISTER, STEPPED ON THIS TREADPLATE AS HE BOARDED H.M.S. KELVIN TO VIEW THE D-DAY ASSAULT AREA, JUNO, ON 12TH JUNE 1944 -- 12 x 28in. (30.5 x 71cm.)
One of five K-class Destroyers laid down in 1937-38, Kelvin (F37) was built by the Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company Ltd, at Govan in Scotland, launched on 19 January 1939 and commissioned on 27 November 1939. Named for the famous compass and instrument maker William Thompson, Lord Kelvin (1824-1907), she displaced 1,600 tons and measured 339ft 6in by 35ft 8in. with a 13ft 8in. draft. Powered by two Parson's geared turbines developing 40,000shp, she could make 36 knots. Like her more famous sister Kelly, she had a very active wartime career and served with distinction in several theatres gaining battle honours for Atlantic (1940); Spartivento (1940); Crete (1941); Mediterranean (1941-43); Sirte (1942); Malta Convoys (1942); Normandy (1944) and the Aegean (1944). It was whilst serving in Normandy that she took Churchill and other VIPs to witness Operation Overlord first hand. Churchill had been keen to witness the First Wave of the D-Day assault, but had been persuaded that it was too dangerous. Thus it fell to Kelvin to play host six days after the initial bridgeheads had been secured. Having viewed the action from the bridge of Kelvin, he then went and inspected German defences destroyed by the Royal Navy. Kelvin was broken up at Troon in 1949, and although it is not known when the inscription to the reverse of this plate was done, it seems likely that, as they are typical of ships' punches, it was done shortly after his famous visit. Until recently, the treadplate was being used as a step in a flower bed.
cast in brass and impressed with name, the reverse inscribed in punch stamps: THE RT. HON. WINSTON CHURCHILL, MP, PRIME MINISTER, STEPPED ON THIS TREADPLATE AS HE BOARDED H.M.S. KELVIN TO VIEW THE D-DAY ASSAULT AREA, JUNO, ON 12TH JUNE 1944 -- 12 x 28in. (30.5 x 71cm.)
One of five K-class Destroyers laid down in 1937-38, Kelvin (F37) was built by the Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company Ltd, at Govan in Scotland, launched on 19 January 1939 and commissioned on 27 November 1939. Named for the famous compass and instrument maker William Thompson, Lord Kelvin (1824-1907), she displaced 1,600 tons and measured 339ft 6in by 35ft 8in. with a 13ft 8in. draft. Powered by two Parson's geared turbines developing 40,000shp, she could make 36 knots. Like her more famous sister Kelly, she had a very active wartime career and served with distinction in several theatres gaining battle honours for Atlantic (1940); Spartivento (1940); Crete (1941); Mediterranean (1941-43); Sirte (1942); Malta Convoys (1942); Normandy (1944) and the Aegean (1944). It was whilst serving in Normandy that she took Churchill and other VIPs to witness Operation Overlord first hand. Churchill had been keen to witness the First Wave of the D-Day assault, but had been persuaded that it was too dangerous. Thus it fell to Kelvin to play host six days after the initial bridgeheads had been secured. Having viewed the action from the bridge of Kelvin, he then went and inspected German defences destroyed by the Royal Navy. Kelvin was broken up at Troon in 1949, and although it is not known when the inscription to the reverse of this plate was done, it seems likely that, as they are typical of ships' punches, it was done shortly after his famous visit. Until recently, the treadplate was being used as a step in a flower bed.
Auction: Maritime and Scientific Models, Instruments & Art (Audacious), 27th Oct, 2010
