*British, Post WWII, Royal Navy Sweetheart Brooch, HMS Solebay, Enamel & White Metal*
A fine Royal Navy sweetheart brooch for HMS Solebay, measuring 5.2 cm x 2.7 cm. The brooch is of silvered metal with enamel detail, featuring the ship’s badge: a Tudor rose picked out in silver against a deep blue enamel field, encircled by a rope border and surmounted by the Naval Crown. Beneath, a scroll in black enamel is inscribed H.M.S. SOLEBAY. The badge is mounted to a horizontal bar brooch fitting.
Historical Note:
HMS Solebay (R70) was a Battle-class destroyer of the Royal Navy, named after the Battle of Sole Bay of 1672, fought between the Anglo-French fleet and the Dutch during the Third Anglo-Dutch War. Laid down in 1943, launched in 1944, and commissioned in 1945, Sole Bay entered service too late for the Second World War but served with distinction in the immediate post-war years. She was attached to the Home Fleet and later the Mediterranean Fleet, before being decommissioned in 1967 and scrapped the following year.
Sweetheart brooches such as this were widely produced during and after the Second World War, gifted by sailors to wives, fiancées, and family members as a keepsake and symbol of connection during service.
*Condition*
The brooch retains a bright silvered finish and strong enamel detail, with the Tudor rose and lettering remaining clear. The reverse shows typical age-related wear and oxidation, with some loss of finish to the plating. The pin and clasp remain intact and functional. A good example with strong colour and detail. Please see photographs as part of the condition report.
