HMS Carlisle was a C-class light cruiser of the RN, commissioned in 1918.

Carlisle was unfortunately too late to see action in WW1 but in 1919 she joined the 5th Light Cruiser Squadron at Harwich. During March 1919, she departed with the squadron and took up station in China, whilst there she helped with the rescue of the survivors of the Singaporean passenger ship SS Hong Moh, which ran aground on the White Rocks off Lamock Island, Shantou, China and was wrecked with the loss of an estimated 900 to 1,000 lives. 

In June 1939 Carlisle started a conversion to an anti-aircraft cruiser, fitted with eight 4-inch QF MK16 and 1 quadruple 2 pounder Pom-Pom being fitted which was completed in January 1940, along with a new Type 280 radar, she became the first naval vessel to be equipped with an anti-aircraft fire control radar system.

She then spent a brief period with the Home Fleet, in which she participated in Allied operations against the German invasion of Norway (Operation Sickle) but moving to the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden area, where she assisted in the evacuation of British troops, civilians and the sick from Berbera in British Somaliland to Aden.

She returned to the Eastern Fleet in August 1940, taking part in Operation Lustre, Battle of Cape Matapan, as well as the first and second battles of Sirte. She was involved in the naval attack during the Battle of Crete before returning to convoy duties between Alexandria and Malta.

In July 1943, she escorted the support force for the Allied invasion of Sicily, then in September–October, during the German counter-attack in the Aegean Sea, Carlisle made a sortie into the area south of Piraeus with the destroyers HMS Panther and HMS Rockwood, intercepting German convoys in the Scarpanto Strait.

On 9 October 1943, they were spotted by German Ju 87 dive bombers, which succeeded in sinking Panther and seriously damaging Carlisle, killing 24 members of the ship's company.

She was taken in tow to Alexandria by Rockwood but was considered to be beyond economical repair as a warship and was converted to serve as a base ship in the harbour of Alexandria in March 1944, finally scrapped in 1949.

This fabulous original painted bronze badge is mounted on japanned mahogany, adorned with the ships name along with her service period hand painted in gold leaf around the edges. Overall, it measures 11” x 10” and has bronze screws and a hanging point to the rear.

Great addition to any collection!

£450

Local delivery, U.K & International shipping available with collections welcome too

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