A mounted tompion badge from the C-class light cruiser HMS Curlew.
The tompion badge, which would have originally been mounted on a brass or wooden disc, used to cover a gun muzzle from adverse weather has been mounted on an oval, coated wooden board.
The tompion badge itself is that of a curlew made of solid bronze.
The mounting board bears the name of the ship to the reverse in marker pen.
~ Dimensions ~
The piece measures 25cm (9 ¾ inches) by 30.5cm (12 inches).
It weighs 1.37 Kg.
~ Condition ~
The piece is in a nice condition with no damages, just a few scratches to the board and a little oxidation to the bird in parts.
~ HMS Curlew (D42) ~
HMS Curlew was a C-class light cruiser launched by Vickers Ltd, Barrow-in-Furness in 1917.
During the remainder of the war she was attached to the Harwich Force.
In the years before the Second World war she was rearmed as an anti-aircraft cruiser. Under the command of Captain Basil Charles Barrington Brooke she took part in the Norwegian Campaign.
She was sunk by German aircraft, near Narvick on 26 May 1940.
