Lot 88
A HELIOGOLAND BIGHT 28/8/1914 SOUVENIR OF HMS FEARLESS.
A naval desktop souvenir made form a shell casing with a piece of mounted Shrapnel, with Heliogoland 28. August. 1914 and HMS Fearless engraved.
The Battle of Heliogoland Bight was the first real naval battle, of the Gt War.
With two Light Cruisers and seventeen Destroyers under Commodore Thywhitt and Submarines commanded by Roger Keyes, the plan to trap German Patrols was put to the test. So secret was the raid, Admiral Lord Jellicoe himself was only told of it happening, at the last minute.
Off the coast of N W Germany the trap was sprung, shellfire erupted between ships and torpedoes were fired by both naval powers. Despite confusion and errors by both sides, it became a Victory for Britain due to ships and men lost. Had not the Battleships sailed to cover the force, things may well have turned out differently. The German Navy lost 3 Light Cruisers and a Destroyer. 717 Sailors killed, 530 wounded and 336 taken Prisoner of War. Including a son of Admiral Tirpitz.
HMS Fearless took part in the Battle of Jutland and a lesser known 'Battle'
In 1918 in a different Flotilla action, she rammed and sunk a friendly K(17) Submarine. Great was the damage to her Prow & Foredeck, even more to her Ships Crews Pride. Wags suggested it was 'The Battle of May Island'.
The Desk Weight 3" diameter and 1.1/2" high. Damage caused to Hms Fearless by the enemy hits at Heliogoland was light.
