Thank you for all your enquiries about this ultra rare item, after a quick spell in the M&K workshop. It’s now ready to advertise…..
Superb WW2 Royal Navy HMS Avenger Solid Bronze /Silver Chapel Crucifix.
HMS Avenger was a Royal Navy escort aircraft carrier during WW2, originally laid down as the merchant ship “Rio Hudson” at the Sun Shipbuilding & Drydock Company yard in Chester, Pennsylvania USA. In 1940, she was converted into an escort carrier and transferred under the lend lease agreement to the RN, commissioned on 2 March 1942.
Immediately, she took part in what was the largest and most successful Russian convoy to date, “PQ18”, where she provided the much needed air cover, using Sea-Hurricane’s and Fairey Swordfish aircraft. When Convoy PQ 18 arrived at Archangel in Russia, no escorts and only ten of the 41 merchant ships in the convoy had been sunk.
After providing an escort on the return journey, “QP14”, breaking off at Scapa Flow, she was joined by HMS Biter, and HMS Victorious and was tasked with providing air cover for one of the convoys carrying the British assault force for Operation Torch.
Once off North Africa, she would join the covering force for the landings, with HMS Argus, three cruisers, and five destroyers. On arrival on 8 November 1942, the Supermarine Seafires from Argus and Avenger's Sea Hurricanes provided cover for the landings.
Amazingly, between 8–10 November, Avenger flew 60 fighter missions and survived a near miss by a torpedo from an He 111. Unfortunately between the 10-12 of November, she was laid up with engine problems before sailing for Gibraltar.
During that passage through the Straits on the 15th November 1942, she was struck by a single torpedo fired by U-155 under the command of Kapitänleutnant Adolf Piening, just west of Gibraltar.
Sadly, Avenger sank quickly and with a heavy loss of life (516 perished) with just twelve members of her crew surviving.
This 14.5”H x 7.5”W x 6”D extremely heavy bronze crucifix is in fine fettle and is fixed with two hand engraved silvered cartouches, one with the ships name and the other with the ships badge and two others crests.
The cross is also fitted with a silvered halo, engraved with “You walked through the waves, you crossed the deep sea, but your footprints could not be seen. Psalms - comfort in times of distress”.
£1295
(Ps. Some of the proceeds of this sale will go to the RBL)
Local delivery, U.K & international shipping with collection’s welcome too
