WW2 submarine skull brooch?

[upbeek]

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[upbeek]

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[peter monahan]

Well, I've been educated! Clearly the RN submariners used the Jolly Roger too. I'm not sure that makes it 'obvious' that it is British, however. Me being pedantic?

Upbeek's post shows British and German relics in the same lot, so I would argue that a case could be made foe either a U-boat 'sweetheart' or an RN one.

[upbeek]

It's very interesting, that's why I mostly collect estate lots because they are true and untouched often they reveal a story,
I was looking at the photographs and the reverse of the submarine looks to be in parts like it started of life as something else and reworked into the submarine?

[Stossgruppe3]

Once again you have found a nice piece of history ....
Its very difficult to say where this originally came from England or Germany ?
POW's etc etc ...
You'll never know interesting though all the same
Nice find Sir
Regards David

[upbeek]

Thank you David,
My learned friend ,
Regards Chay

[upbeek]

Just to keep here is the auction result for this group, my iPad eats photos .
Well the fee was £250 in the end but I am very happy with it.
Regards Chay

[dragnet]

Nice find I still find the brooch most probably British made, it resembles a British sub so closley, heavy gun on a platform thats attatched to the tower, very British sub design.

[peter monahan]

So, sold in an auction as a group which came in together? That is interesting indeed and a pleasant mystery history puzzle.

[popskipa]

Hello Clay,

The Special Constabulary medal will should be named which may provide a clue to the submarine crewman.

Sending images to the curator of the Submarine Museum at Gosport, Hampshire would be where I would start. The curator may be able to identify the type of submarine in the photos, and a real bonus if he recognises any of the crew. The curator may know more about the skull, crossbones and submarine sweetheart brooch, as I have not seen one before.

I remain convinced the brooch is for a sweetheart and not worn on the uniform of the sailor himself. The sort of item he could have had made on shore leave in Valetta or another of the many overseas bases used by the submarines of the Royal Navy in WW2.

The Jolly Roger flags are most interesting. Based upon the design of the flag flown by the Pirates that were the scourge of the Carribean seas in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The submarine service has been thought of as an ungentlemanly method of warfare and, no doubt, the Jolly Roger adds to the perceived piratical nature of their missions. The symbols on the flags signify the achievements of the submarine's mission, tons of shipping destroyed (rectangular bars), clandestine landings (dagger), mine laying (explosion) etc.

Keith

[upbeek]

Thank you gentlemen,
The name on the Police medal is Arthur Firth, this could be the submariner but the auctioneer said she was married twice. when I source these items I am like a human lie detector and a swift interrogation is conducted. made up lots don't really make it into general auctions so you usually get real history, nobody lives forever
Regards Chay