HMS Hermes was a British aircraft carrier built for the Royal Navy and was the world's first ship to be designed as an aircraft carrier, commissioned in 1924.

Hermes served briefly with the Atlantic Fleet before spending the bulk of her career assigned to the Mediterranean Fleet and the China Station. In the Mediterranean, she worked with other carriers developing multi-carrier tactics and whilst showing the flag at the China Station, she helped to suppress piracy in Chinese waters.

On the onset of WW2, she conducted anti-submarine patrols in the Western Approaches before being transferred to Dakar in October to cooperate with the French Navy in hunting down German commerce raiders and blockade runners. In 1941, the ship supported Commonwealth forces in Italian Somaliland during the East African Campaign and did much the same two months later in the Persian Gulf during the Anglo-Iraqi War. After a brief refit, she joined the Eastern Fleet at Ceylon.

Hermes was berthed in Trincomalee on 8 April 1942 when a warning of an Indian Ocean raid by the Japanese fleet was received, and she sailed that day for the Maldives with no aircraft on board. On 9 April a Japanese scout plane spotted her near Batticaloa, and she was attacked by several dozen dive bombers shortly afterwards. With no air cover, the carrier was quickly sunk by the Japanese aircraft. Most of the survivors were rescued by a nearby hospital ship, although 307 men from Hermes were lost in the sinking.

This incredible 8.5” badge is extremely rare, overall including the mahogany it measures 10” in diameter. Great addition to any collection!

£650

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