NAVAL BELLS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 207, 26 April 1932, Page 7

NAVAL BELLS

HISTORIC SOUVRNIRS SOLD AT LONDON>AUCTION SALE R-ELICS OF GREAT WAR In the sale of bells from famous British naval war vessels, which are being distributed to tbeir purchasers this month, are divulged some of the hitherto untold "stunts" of the Navy during the Great War. These bells — in various stages of decrepitude — have been disposed of at fixed prices to officers and others interested, and make historical souvenirs. For instance, for £5 there was sold the bell from H.M.S. Teazer, the vessel which, when employed with th© flarwich patrol at the end the September, 1917, dropped a depth charge on a liostile submarine. Then there is the H.M.S. Wolfhound's bell ("cracked, bad tone"). Wolfhound on one occasion engaged an enemy seaplane off Granton, causing the enemy to retire. That was in June, 1918, while six months later she bombarded Port Makholm, Russia. One pound was wanted for that bell. Two pounds secured to someone the bell ("badly cracked and minus clapper") of H.M.S. Ganterbury, which attacked a Zeppelin in August, 1916, engaged seaplane and airship in October of the same year, and opened fire on enemy destroyers in June, 1917. She also fired on a Zeppelin, which collapsed in flames, in June, 1917, while the following month she opened fire on destroyers — truly a good souvenir, whether cracked or not. There were two bells from H.M.S. Wistaria, which opened fire on a submarine attaeking a convoy off Gibraltar in October, 1917, afterwards serving on the North America and West Indies station. There was a cracked bell from H.M.S. Valiant, ' which saw service in the Battle of Jutland. For £5 was offered a bell from H.M.S. Clematis, which m December, j 1915, bombarded the coast off AlexI andria to assist the military operaj tions and also on another occasmn I opened fire on Cape Bianco. For the I same sum went a good bell from I H.M.S. Tribune, which was in action I with the shore batteries at Durazzo I and with the enemy destroyers in ! October, 1918. I The best price, that of £10. was I obtained for the bell of H.M.S. Tiger, II which took part in the action during || which the Blueher was sunk in June,, | 1916. With such a record, it is only I appropriate that the Tiger 's second I bell sliould be disposed of for £5. J Submarine K 26 had a good bell "1 going at £5. This under-water craft 'j undertook a special tropical cruise 1 of about 20,000 miles without a | parent ship in 1924, while she sunk | by gunfire the pilgrim ship Frange- | stan, which was gutted by fire and I was a menace to shipping.