HMS Southampton Candlesticks

We have often bought and sold items of treen, made from wood salvaged from Royal Navy ships, but few match this attractive matched pair of candlesticks. They look to have been carved from pitch pine, with fitted brass sconces, but what lifts them to a new level is the hand carving to the base of each which confirms 'HMS Southampton Portion of mast, JUTLAND 31st May 1916'. The story does not end there, as they were originally presented to Engineer-Captain W. H. Mitchell R. N. (1878-1960), who served on Southampton in WWI and were subsequently inherited by his Grandson, who also advised his Grandfather went on to become a Rear Admiral.

Provenance is only of value if it can be proven and in this case a report found in the Times newspaper of 11th November 1926 confirms 'Engineer-Captain W. H. Michell has been selected for the position of Chief Engineer of the Dock Yard at Hong-Kong. Hitherto he has been First Assistant to the Manager at Chatham. In the War Engineer-Captain Mitchell was chief engineer of the cruiser Southampton'. The year of Eng-Captain W. H. Michell's transfer from Chatham to Hong Kong was 1926, and at the time HMS Southampton was at Chatham being made ready for scrapping at Pembroke Dock. It is safe to assume the candlesticks were made by Chatham Staff as a leaving gift to Eng-Captain Michell on his transfer from Chatham to Hong Kong and as a reminder of his service on Southampton in the First War.

HMS Southampton was built by John Brown & Company at their Clydebank shipyard and launched on 16 May 1912. She was assigned to the 1st Battle Squadron and she became flagship of the 1st Light Cruiser Squadron in July 1913. She had an extremely active wartime career, participating in the Battle of Heligoland Bight, and later in the Battle of Dogger Bank in early 1915. In May 1916, Southampton fought in the Battle of Jutland as flagship of 2nd Light Cruiser Squadron and was first to spot the German battle fleet when Commodore "Barge" Goodenough sent a signal back to his commander, Vice Admiral Sir David Beatty. She subsequently torpedoed and sunk the German light cruiser SMS Frauenlob. In 1917, she was transferred to the 8th Light Cruiser Squadron with whom she remained and suvived the war. In 1926 Southampton was sold for scrapping on 13th July 1926.

The candlesticks measure 7.5" high and 4" diameter at the base (18.5 cm x 10 cm). With the festive season fast approaching these historic, decorative and useful candlesticks would be the perfect present for the marine or Royal Navy collector in your life. A one-off opportunity that will never be repeated!