SilverSoldier Posted 19 September , 2006 Share Posted 19 September , 2006 Hello all. I picked up this item at a local Curio sale recently, the only piece of Militaria there! It measure's approx 3.5 Cm x 2.5 Cm (1 & Half" x 1") In old money! Minature Brass Plaque. Pin Hole at each corner. Engraved in relief 'HMS Defiance' dated underneath 1880 (1860?) - 1932. Obviously has some history to it, perhaps mounted on a Gift / Commemorative item? Long period of time elapsed between dates, a Shore establishment? Naval School/ Ship? If one of you ex Navy lads / Navy enthusiasts or collectors would like to have it, PM me. It needs a good home. Regards. Terry W. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joseph Posted 19 September , 2006 Share Posted 19 September , 2006 Terry, Defiance was the name of the Royal Navy Torpedo Shoolship. Regards Charles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverSoldier Posted 19 September , 2006 Author Share Posted 19 September , 2006 Hello Charles. Thankyou for that. It is nice to discover even a fraction of such a small object's history. Perhaps someone else can shed more light on the history of HMS Defiance. Regards. Terry W. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Roberts Posted 19 September , 2006 Share Posted 19 September , 2006 Various vessels have been attached to the establishment of the Torpedo School from time to time, under the general name of “Defiance.” The "Defiance" on your plaque must be, judging by the dates, the twelfth ship of that name, a 91-gun screw wooden ship, launched at Pembroke in 1861. She was of 5270 tons, 3350 horse-power, and 12 knots speed. Her length, beam, and draught were 255ft., 56ft., and 18ft. This ship, however, was never commissioned until December 1884, when she was appropriated as the stationary Torpedo School Ship at Devonport. It was not unusual in the 18th and 19th centurys for RN ships to be built and immediately mothballed for many years, and then either scrapped or put to second-line use, never having put to sea. The next Torpedo School Defiance was a conversion of the old cruiser "Vulcan" and took over in 1932, which ties in with your dates. Adrian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverSoldier Posted 21 September , 2006 Author Share Posted 21 September , 2006 Thankyou Adrian. Fascinating snipit of Naval History, facts and specifications which I will write up and keep with the Plaque. Regards. Terry W. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teamski Posted 23 September , 2006 Share Posted 23 September , 2006 Could you post a picture of it? -Ski Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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