WHITE STAR LINE: WHITE STAR LINE: R.M.S./H.M.T. Olympic, or...

Hammer

£14,000

WHITE STAR LINE:

WHITE STAR LINE: R.M.S./H.M.T. Olympic, original cast bronze presentation plaque, issued to the ship herself by the American 59th Regiment, as a recognition of thanks to commemorate the sinking of U-103, by H.M.T. Olympic in 1918. Cast and raised text, featuring the crest of the American 59th Regiment, with the American eagle flanked by crossed rifles. The inscription reads:- “THIS TABLET, PRESENTED BY THE 59TH REGIMENT, UNITED STATES INFANTRY, COMMEMORATES THE SINKING OF THE GERMAN SUBMARINE, U-103, BY THE “OLYMPIC” ON 12TH MAY 1918 IN LAT. 49 16 N. LONG. 4 51 W. ON THE VOYAGE FROM NEW YORK TO SOUTHAMPTON WITH AMERICAN TROOPS” It is believed this plaque was presented and installed on the liner after her post-war refit, having been displayed in one of the ship’s public spaces, where it remained until being removed by her owners, then Cunard White Star, in 1935. This unique museum standard artefact is in fact the R.M.S. Olympic’s very own war medal, to mark her sterling and historic war service. In May 1918, the German U-boat, U-103, sighted the Olympic, while steaming from New York to Southampton, with a large contingent of American troops onboard for the theatre of war in Europe. Upon preparing to fire upon the ship, the U-boat was spotted by Olympic. Fast thinking by the ship’s crew led to the ship sharply changing course to open fire and ram the U-boat. Attempting to dive to evade the approaching liner, the Olympic’s port propeller sliced through the U-boat's pressure hull, and the submarine was doomed, sinking quickly. The ship’s crew’s fast thinking undoubtedly saved hundreds of lives, and earned the ship its very own battle honour, this very plaque. Unique. 4½ins. x 23ins. (37cm x 58.5cm) Displayed and mounted within an archival museum-standard Plexiglass box frame, white trim measuring 24ins. x 28ins. (61cm x 71cm) Provenance:- Presented by the Cunard White Star Line in 1936, after being removed from the ship in 1935, to The Honourable Company of Master Mariners in 1936. It was placed on display onboard the company’s own vessel, moored on the Thames, H.M.S. Wellington, until the company recently sold its extensive collections of art, artefacts and memorabilia. An iconic and unique piece of memorabilia.