~ HMS Wessex 1944 Destroyer Pennant ~
The blue cloth pennant bears the the ships name and crest to one side. These were sold on board as fundraisers during open days.
~ HMS Wessex ~
HMS Wessex (pennant number: R78) was one of eight W-class destroyers built for the Royal Navy during World War II. Completed in 1944, the ship spent most of the war assigned to the Eastern and Pacific Fleets. She screened British aircraft carriers as their aircraft attacked targets in the Japanese-occupied Nicobar Islands, the Dutch East Indies and Okinawa.
Wessex was then reduced to reserve after arriving home in December 1945. She was then transferred to Simon’s Town, South Africa in 1947, to form the South Atlantic Reserve Force. The ship was purchased by the South African Navy in 1950 and renamed HMSAS Jan van Riebeeck. She was placed in reserve in 1953 and continuing shortages of manpower kept the ship in reserve for most of the rest of her career even though she was converted into a fast anti-submarine frigate in 1964–66. Jan van Riebeeck was converted to serve as a training ship in 1971–72 and remained in that role until she was decommissioned in 1975. The ship was sunk as a target in 1980.
~ Condition ~
The pennant is in good order with minor moth damage along the seam.
~ Dimensions ~
The pennant is 42 cm (16.5 inches) long by 22 cm (8.5 inches) tall.
#9777