Charles Miller Ltd
Lot 245
A FINE BUILDER`S PRESENTATION GIN:1FT SCALE MODEL OF H.M. M.G.B. 334, BUILT BY A.M. DICKIE & SONS FOR THE ROYAL NAVY, 1941 modelled by A.W. Penny of Teddington, with carved hull with gold-plated fittings including twin prop shafts, propellers and rudders, detailed superstructure and fittings including full set of main and secondary armament, radio and signal mast, flag locker with flags, fitted inflatable dinghy, mounted on twin columns within original glazed display case with maker`s plates and stand. Measurements including stand Ñ 54 x 51 1/2 x 17 1/4in. (137 x 131 x 44cm.); together with a signed and framed photograph of H.M. M.G.B. 334 on active service, (2) One of a large number of high speed gun boats hastily ordered at the beginning of World War II and constructed between 1940 and 1944, MGB 334 was completed by the Dickie works in Bangor on the 9th October 1941. Measuring 110 feet, she displaced just 72 tons, her 3 Hall-Scott Defenders petrol engines generated 2700bhp giving her a speed of 26.5knots. Forming part of the 16th MGB Flotilla, based at Great Yarmouth, her significant action of the War was her heroic performance in company with her sister, MGB 335, on 10th September 1942 when the pair of them took on a squadron of eleven enemy Schnell Boots off the Dutch coast. Without waiting for back up, both flew at the surprised German flotilla with all guns blazing and engaged them in a furious circling action which culminated in MGB 335 disabled and ablaze, but still firing at the enemy who had formed a semi-circle around their "kill". To the Germans` astonishment, MGB 334 returned to assist her stricken sister and, with guns maintaining a steady fire, proceeded to lay alongside and disembark all but two of the crew, before retreating whilst firing to sink her sister. By this time the Germans had stopped firing in admiration of their foe`s heroics and, anecdotal evidence suggests that they agreed to behave in the same manner should they ever be in MGB 335`s situation. The Commanding Officer of MGB 334, Lt Ernest Michael Thorpe was awarded the DSO and went on to become Senior Officer of the 19th MGB Flotilla. This model, which is of unusually high quality for a wartime production, may possibly have been made to commemorate this action, although whether for her builders or commander is not clear. MGB 334 was struck from the list of active service in October 1945 and broken up.
