Charles Miller Ltd
Lot 344
AN HISTORICALLY INTERESTING BUILDER'S MODEL FOR THE ROYAL FLEET AUXILIARY TANKER EAGLESDALE , BUILT BY FURNESS SHIPBUILDING FOR THE MINISTRY OF SHIPPING, 1941, AND PRESENTED TO ERNEST BEVIN, MINISTER OF LABOUR, WHO LAUNCHED THE SHIP the 28in. carved hull with grey painted topsides and deck, with detailed metal fittings as appropriate including anchor winches, deck rails, companionways, superstructure with anti-aircraft guns over, rangefinder, signal lanyard and radio aerial, pipework, aft funnel with ladder, stays and safety valve extension pipe, covered boats in davits, and other details, mounted in two brass columns on original glazed display case with builder's plate, secured to a stepped Art Deco table stand -- overall measurements including stand: 45 x 40½ x 15in. (114 x 103 x 38cm.) Provenance: Presented by shipbuilder to Ernest Bevin 1941; gifted to Vincent Tewson (General Secretary of the T.U.C.), and thence by descent. This lot will be available for viewing at Imperial RoadFootnote: Concerned at the age of the R.F.A. fleet, an emergency War programme was commenced and Eaglesdale was one of an intended nineteen 'Dale' Class freighters hastily laid down in December 1940 and launched eleven months later. The class was never completed and ultimately comprised a mish-mash of acquisitions and referrals, but the overall objective of refreshing the fleet was more-or-less achieved. Eaglesdale registered a little over 8,000 tons and was 479ft long with a 61ft beam with a useful carrying capacity of 580,273 cubic feet. She served successfully throughout the War supplying many RN warships with essential fuel oil whilst on tour, and is listed on the Merchant Marine Memorial for the repatriation in 1942 of eight crew lost on the S.S. Mendoza which was torpedoed in the Indian Ocean by U-178. In 1959 the Admiralty listed her for sale, but with no commercial takers, German breakers bought her for £65,000 and she was sent to Hamburg for breaking.Condition report: Line of rigging parted over bridge and on starboard companionway, otherwise fine overall condition.
