Description

MFV 1080 Admiralty Bell 1944

Motor Fishing Vessel

Known as HMS “Watchful”

This bell is appx 10″ in diameter at its base.

Generally MFVs were wooden hulled motorised boats built for patrolling during WW2.  They could be directed for use as mine hunters and layers as well as recovery boats for downed pilots or seamen of damaged ships

MFV 1080 (James Noble, Fraserburgh, 1944) was with the Fisheries Protection Fleet as ‘HMS Watchful’.

In 1944 she sailed to the Mediterranean!

website Ships Nostalgia had a post which said,

MVF 1080 went to Orkney, to serve on the Southern isles run for Bremner’s of Stromness, named Watchful. In 1976 she was sold off & went South. In 1979 she was sold to a couple of guys who intended to convert her for diving charters. To be based somewhere on the south coast;
Would that be YoYo of Southampton, Vickentallen? (no longer in business)

We then received an email from a gentleman who worked for Lloyds register who said the following,

Later she became private motor boat ‘Watchful’ and was moored in the Wareham Channel, Dorset, 7/89 to 9/83, went ashore in high winds 1994 and was blown up by the Royal Marines.

How the bell ended with the family we bought the bell from we don’t know but we are happy to share the name of the previous owner and further details but we haven’t shared that here out of respect to the family.

Collection is from Southampton

Postage/shipping is added to the price quoted