HMS Vimiera Brass Souvenir Dish 1917 – 1918.

A brass dish hand engraved with an image of the duke of Wellington with ‘HMS Vimiera 1917 – 1918’ under.
There were two ships of this name, the first was a French Navy brig which was captured in 1808 and put into British service, she was named ‘Vimiera’ in honour of General Arthur Wellesley's victory at Vimeiro on 21st August 1808.
The second, which this dish refers was a V-class destroyer ordered as part of the 1917–18 programme, a shipbuilding initiative focused on expanding and modernizing the fleet to counter German submarine warfare and meet the demands of a global conflict. She was laid down in October 1916 and launched 22nd June 1917.
She was unfortunately destroyed and sank on 9th January 1942 after striking a mine in the Thames estuary, off Warden, Kent.
The dis measures 6 inches in diameter and is in good condition.

Code: 30683