HMS "YORK" BOAT BADGE

HMS "YORK" BOAT BADGE, C1928 pentagonal with rope surround to denote a cruiser, of cast and sheet brass with stainless steel lettering partly painted, backed on Bakelite, 46.5cm h overall Provenance: One of the ship's company; thence by descent to the present vendor. HMS "York" was one of the two York Class heavy cruisers built for the Royal Navy during the inter-war period. Launched in 1928 and commissioned in 1930, the 8,250 ton vessel had a length of 575ft and beam of 57ft. Armament included 4 and 8 inch guns and two 21inch torpedo tubes. In August 1940 York was assigned to the third cruiser squadron of the Mediterranean Fleet based at Alexandria. The ship was disabled at Suda Bay Crete by Italian explosive motorboats on 26 March 1941. The vessel was irreparably damaged by German bombers on 18 May and four days later her main guns were wrecked by demolition charges when allied forces left Crete.