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Lot Essay
Accompanied by an album with historical documents related to the life of Captain Henderson Smith.
The engraving on the watch reads, Presented to Capt. Henderson Smith Comnd. R.N.R. Commanding H.M.S. Worcester by W.H. Roberts, Esq. as a token of gratitude for the gallant rescue of Himself, Mrs. Roberts & the Crew of the Yacht Bamba which became a total wreck. 10th September 1869.
Captain John Henderson Smith was the Commander of the Royal Navy's training ship H.M.S. Worcester for 25 years. He passed away in December 1904 at the age of 78.
During his long and successful career Captain Smith trained many able sailors including Togo Heihachiro, a Japanese cadet, who in 1903 was named Commander of the Japanese fleet. Known as Admiral Togo, he was one of Japan's greatest naval heroes often refered to as "The Nelson of the East".
The Army & Navy Cooperative Society Limited was founded in London in 1871 and was the first and most successful cooperative retailer with branches throughout the British Empire and India. The firm's goal was to offer The Very Best English Goods at reasonable prices. In the records of the Kew Observatory they are listed as makers of high-quality complicated watches which did well at the trials at the turn of the century. The present watch with its double overcoil hairspring most certainly participated at such a trial.
The engraving on the watch reads, Presented to Capt. Henderson Smith Comnd. R.N.R. Commanding H.M.S. Worcester by W.H. Roberts, Esq. as a token of gratitude for the gallant rescue of Himself, Mrs. Roberts & the Crew of the Yacht Bamba which became a total wreck. 10th September 1869.
Captain John Henderson Smith was the Commander of the Royal Navy's training ship H.M.S. Worcester for 25 years. He passed away in December 1904 at the age of 78.
During his long and successful career Captain Smith trained many able sailors including Togo Heihachiro, a Japanese cadet, who in 1903 was named Commander of the Japanese fleet. Known as Admiral Togo, he was one of Japan's greatest naval heroes often refered to as "The Nelson of the East".
The Army & Navy Cooperative Society Limited was founded in London in 1871 and was the first and most successful cooperative retailer with branches throughout the British Empire and India. The firm's goal was to offer The Very Best English Goods at reasonable prices. In the records of the Kew Observatory they are listed as makers of high-quality complicated watches which did well at the trials at the turn of the century. The present watch with its double overcoil hairspring most certainly participated at such a trial.