RELICS OF THE WAR

Horowhenua Chronicle, 7 January 1927, Page 8

RELICS OF THE WAR

A NAVAL COLLECTION.

The naval section of the Imperial War Museum was opened in London on Armistice Day. Several of the exhibits have already been seen at qho Crystal Palace, but many are new. One of the most interesting things to be seen is the 4in gun of the Lance, which fired the first shot during the raid on Heligoland Bight on August 28, 1914. The bridge of the Iris, a Mersey ferryboat which took part in the Zeebrugge operations; finely carved wooden doors left on the shore of the Crcssy, Aboukir, and Hogue before they went into action, and historic flags arc other relics exhibited. The model ships are marvels of workmanship. That of the light cruiser, Furious, is worth £3,00.

One wall of the gallery is inscribed with the names of every ship which flew the white ensign during the war from the greatest battleship to the most modest trawler. There a*re about 5000 names. There is also a roll of honour of all the ships that went down.

Visitors are aide to compare the old ship’s badges, often designed at the fancy of an individual captain, with the new badges, which are the work of the official herald to the Admiralty. There is also shown the stuffed head of “Tirpitz.” the pig which was rescued at sea, alive, brought home and sold many times in aid of charity before it died.