Now in the M&K shop from the collection of Capt R.J Campbell Rtd (1933-2023), is this…….
Rare Solid Bronze Royal Navy HMS Dampier Tread or Deck Plate (1948-68)
HMS Dampier was a survey ship of the RN, named after the explorer, author and privateer, William Dampier, commissioned in 1948.
She
was laid down during WW2 and was initially intended to be a Bay class anti-aircraft frigate for the war effort but after VE Day, work was suspended and finally re-commenced in 1946, converting her to a survey ship.
She spent the entirety of her career based in Singapore, employed in carrying out oceanographic and hydrographic surveys around the coasts of Malaya, Borneo, and Hong Kong, in the South China and Java Seas, with annual refits in Hong Kong, and inspections at Singapore.
On 5 October 1967 Dampier finally left Singapore to return to the UK, arriving at Simon's Town, South Africa, on 17 November.
A week later, after local exercises, it was discovered that the ship's starboard propeller shaft was broken and the ship was obliged to continue her voyage on only one shaft. At Freetown, Sierra Leone, she found that there was no suitable equipment available to make repairs so with only three weeks remaining to make the 3,000 miles back to England in time for Christmas, the ship took the unusual step of manufacturing and hoisting a set of sails.
Three lug sails made from awning canvas were hoisted on 11 December, and four days later a set of square sails. With the assistance of this rig, Dampier arrived at Chatham on 23 December to be greeted by Flag Officer Medway and the Hydrographer of the Navy.
She was finally decommissioned in 1968 prior to going for scrap in Belgium in 1969.
The heavy 20” x 6” solid bronze deck or tread plate has a great used patina and comes with a raft of ephemera, including original photos of the ships company making sails, rigging them and the ship under sail. This small collection comes from the deceased estate of the ships “Excecutive Officer (1st Lt) Lt Cdr R.J Campbell” who was latterly the commanding officer of HMS Hydra during the Falklands Conflict, and retired in 1994 as a Captain, from the Hydrographic Office in Taunton.
Great Royal Naval artefact!
£1995
Local delivery, U.K & international shipping available with collections welcome too
