Seriously Rare WW2 Royal Navy MTB 699 Ships Bell (Lt Cdr J.A Montgomery RN) c.1945
HM MTB 699 was a Fairmile D-class Motor Torpedo Boat built for the Royal Navy in 1941 by Dorset Yacht Co of Hamworthy, commissioned in Oct 1943.
Her last captain was Lt Cdr J. Alistair Montgomerie, who served with the Royal Navy as an officer on various MTB’s as part of the Coastal Forces of the RN and was mentioned in despatches.
In December 1944, Montgomerie, commanding 59 Flotilla, arrived in Malta fresh from the Normandy Landings (D-Day), to provide relief and to support the MTBs already operating in the Adriatic Campaign onboard MTB 699. The flotilla completed 64 patrols, sinking 3 E-boats and a German destroyer, participating in numerous skirmishes with Axis boats in the Dalmation Campaign, of which they sank the Ariete-class torpedo boat TA45.
Montgomerie was one of a number of officers and crew who were honoured for their role in the actions of 59 Flotilla on 12–13 April 1945 and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)
The citation read, “For courage, audacity and skill shown whilst serving in the 59th M.T.B. Flotilla, in an engagement with a superior German force on the 12th-13th April off the coast of Jugoslavia during the course of which an enemy destroyer was sunk”.
The bell was discovered recently in the basement of a house previously owned by the boats skipper and was in quite a state (see last picture). It has been through the M&K workshop, cleaned and polished, with the bell mount painted in RN battleship grey. The actual bell measures 6”H with a 7” flare and is mounted on a 14” hanger, fitted with a pulley lanyard and bell rope.
Superb piece of RN history!
£2250
(All card accepted except Amex)
Local delivery, U.K & international shipping available with collection’s welcome too
