War service plaque

War service plaque for RMVR 'Warwick Castle' 1931. An oblong brass plate with four screws for attachment on the reverse. It is engraved as follows: 'R.M.M.V. "WARWICK CASTLE" (20, 445 GROSS TONS). THE PREVIOUS VESSEL OF THIS NAME WAS COMPLETED IN 1931. REQUISITIONED BY H.M. GOVERNMENT ON THE 8TH JANUARY 1940, AS A TRANSPORT, SHE WAS EMPLOYED CONTINUOUSLY ON WARTIME COMMISSIONS. 1939 SEPTEMBER CHASED BY BUT ELUDED TWO SUBMARINES IN THE APPROACHES TO THE ENGLISH CHANNEL ON A VOYAGE FROM SOUTH AFRICA TO ENGLAND. 1940 BOMBED BY ENEMY AIRCRAFT OFF THE COAST OF IRELAND. EMPLOYED AT INVERARAY AS AN ASSAULT SHIP FOR THE TRAINING OF COMMANDO TROOPS. 1942 TOOK PART IN NORTH AFRICA LANDING OF AN "ALL AMERICAN CONVOY". DISEMBRKED TROOPS AT ORAN. RESCUED SOME GERMAN SURVIVORS IN A LIFEBOAT. TORPEDOED AND SUNK BY AN ENEMY SUBMARINE IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC ON THE 14TH NOVEMBER, WHILE IN CONVOY RETURNING TO THE UNITED KINGDOM FROM NORTH AFRICA.' This plaque would be associated with the 'Pretoria Castle' 1938, sold to the Admiralty in 1942 and rebuilt as an aircraft carrier. In 1946 she was repurchased by Union-Castle and renamed 'Warwick Castle'. The ship was broken up in 1962.

Object Details

ID: HRA0026
Collection: Heraldry
Type: War service plaque
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Unknown
Events: World War II, 1939-1945
Vessels: Warwick Castle (1930); Pretoria Castle (1938)
Date made: 1946
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements: Overall: 35 mm x 330 mm x 124 mm