Liverpool was a Town class cruiser built for the RN by Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Govan, commissioned in 1938.

She had an extremely busy war period earning the following battle honours -

Mediterranean 1940, Calabria 1940, Arctic Convoys 1942 and Malta Convoys 1942

She was seriously damaged twice by torpedoes, once whilst part of the 7th Cruiser Sqn as part of the Mediterranean Fleet, by an Italian Savoia-Marchetti 278-6 aircraft whilst supporting the Malta convoy MF.3. The resulting explosion near the bow by the torpedo released aviation fuel, the fuel reached the mess decks and became exposed to an electrical short circuit with the subsequent explosion seriously compromising Liverpool's bow structure, it enveloped the fos’cle in flames and blew up the vacated "A" turret.

After repair/refit (with a new reinforced bow), Liverpool joined the 18th Cruiser Squadron at Scapa Flow and deployed in support of the Arctic convoys, replacing the damaged HMS Trinidad.

She joined Convoy QP 10, comprising of 16 merchant vessels and five destroyers, on 12 April 1942 as an escort on the convoy’s journey from the Russian Kola Peninsula to Iceland.

The convoy came under repeated attack from U-boats and aircraft for three days with the loss of 4 vessels, QP 10 finally arrived at Reykjavík on the 21st of April.

On 25 May, Liverpool began escorting PQ 16, a convoy of 35 merchant vessels bound for Murmansk, the largest convoy yet undertaken in support of the Soviet Union. It sustained attacks from numerous U-boats and at least 242 German aircraft which yielded a total of seven vessels sunk during 26–27 May, the cruiser escort then switched to the returning convoy QP 12 on 26 May.

Liverpool returned to the Mediterranean in June to participate in Operation Harpoon, part of the Malta Convoys, whilst assigned to Force W covering convoy WS.19, she came under attack by at least 38 Axis aircraft. During the attack, an italian SM 79 torpedo bomber hit Liverpool’s Stbd side & engine room, partially flooding the cruiser and disabling her machinery and steering gear. She was taken in tow by HMS Antelope, heading for Gibraltar and for the rest of the day, Italian aircraft focused on Liverpool, rather than the convoy! Numpties

Liverpool survived the rest of the war with distinction and was finally sold in 1958 for breaking up at Bo'ness, Scotland, taking twelve months to be completely dismantled. (Her bell is on display in Liverpool Anglican Cathedral)

The 8” polished brass/bronze Tampion is in good used condition with its original suspension bracket to the reverse. Apparently, this one is quite rare as it retains the crested crown, which broke off many other Liverpool tampions.

Great piece of tangible Royal Navy history!

£1250

Local delivery, U.K & international shipping available with collection’s welcome too

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