~ British Steam Tankers San Gerardo 1942 Sinking Survivors Pocket Watch ~
The top wind watch case is of silver plated brass. The black face has Arabic numerals in a golden colour with a subsidiary seconds dial. The make of the watch is unknown.
The back is engraved with the ships name and the date of her sinking “31-3-42”.
ALL profits on the sale of this watch will be donated to the “The Mission To Seafarers” charity.
~ San Gerardo ~
The ship was a steam tanker of 12,915 tons. She was built by Palmers Shipbuilding & Iron Co Ltd, Hebburn-on-Tyne and launched in 1922. The owners were Eagle Oil & Shipping Co Ltd of London.
At 22.22 hours on 31 March 1942 the un-escorted San Gerardo (Master Stanley Foley) was hit by two torpedoes from U-71 and sank by the stern southeast of New York. The master, 47 crew members, two gunners and one passenger (DBS) were lost. Three crew members and three gunners were picked up by the British motor tanker Regent Panther and landed at Halifax.
~ Condition ~
The watch is in good tidy vintage condition though the silver plate is very worn. It runs well.
~ Dimensions ~
The watch is 4.6 cm (1.8 inches) in diameter.
#10742