~ Bronze Ships Bell From HMS Sutton 1918 Hunt Class Minesweeper Dunkirk Hero ~
Battle Honours
DUNKIRK 1940 – NORMANDY 1944
Crest
Field: Gold with blue border
Badge: A Lion passant, Black
Motto
Cavendo Tutus: Safe by being cautious.
H.M.S. Sutton, originally designated Salcombe but renamed soon after launching, was one of the enormous class of ‘Aberdare’ minesweepers [or ‘Later Hunts’ as they were also called] which, by the time the Great War ended, numbered an extraordinary 131 examples completed, building or projected. Each had a displacement of 800 tons and was 231 feet in length with a 28½ foot beam. Coal-fired triple-expansion engines gave them a top speed of 16 knots and they were built in numerous yards across the UK, the order for Sutton going to McMillan’s at Dumbarton. Launched as Salcombe on 8th May 1918, but renamed on 26th June due to concerns over potential signalling confusion when at sea, she – like most of her sisters – entered service after the Armistice and was employed clearing the huge numbers of enemy mines laid during the war years. Her most notable exploit during the Second World War was to assist with the vital Dunkirk evacuations in late May 1941.
Her valiant Dunkirk service was…
29th May 1940
Ships boats used to carry 200 troops from beaches to HM Cruiser CALCUTTA.
Under air attacks and continued rescue operations.
30th May 1940
Embarked 193 troops and took passage to Dover to replenish with coal and victualling stores.
31st May 1940
Return passage to Dunkirk to resume evacuation duties.
Embarked 453 troops and took passage to Dover.
As part of Operation Neptune, the naval side of Operation Overlord, she performed minesweeping duties before the invasion.
She remained on active service throughout the conflict until sold for scrapping in 1947.
~ Condition ~
Please refer to the images for condition. There is no clapper.
~ Dimensions ~
The bell is 26cm (10 inches) tall.
