~ HMS Mercury 1941 Shore Establishment Bronze Badge ~
An original bronze badge from the shore establishment HMS Mercury.
According to sources HMS Mercury’s badge should have had a diamond-shape frame proper for a shore establishment but instead a circular frame was used in error.
The badge is of solid bronze, bearing the emblem of a staff entwined by two serpents surmounted by wings.
The badge is attached to a wood mount with hook to reverse.
~ Dimensions ~
The badge measures 16cm (6 ¼ inches) by 12cm (4 ¾ inches).
With mount it weighs 1.65 Kg
~ Condition ~
The badge and mount are in good order.
~ HMS Mercury ~
HMS Mercury was a shore establishment of the Royal Navy, and the site of the Royal Navy Signals School and Combined Signals School. There was also a subsidiary branch, HMS Mercury II.
The school was established at Leydene House, East Meon, near Petersfield, Hampshire, England and was commissioned as HMS Mercury on 16 August 1941 under the command of Captain Gerald Warner.
The base went on to house both the Communications and Navigations faculties of the Royal Navy’s School of Maritime Operations (SMOPS). The school trained generations of Royal Navy Communicators and Navigators until 31 August 1993 when the establishment was decommissioned. At the time of its closure, HMS Mercury was home to the Communications and Navigations Faculties of the Royal Navy’s School of Maritime Operations and the Special Communications Unit (SCU), Leydene.
During its time in operation, HMS Mercury had three nominated depot ships, MB 3520 from 16 August 1941, HL(D) 1854 from 1948 until June 1950, and HL(D) 42473 from June 1950 until her sale on 18 June 1959.
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