4234 – HMS Witch Crest

Physical description:

HMS Witch crest:- A (very heavy) iron crest depicting a seated black cat with a cross expression and a crescent moon behind him (all in black), surrounded by a rope design shield-shaped border, gilded; with the word WITCH above (gilded, against a black background); and above that a coronet-shape (gilded) composed of sails and ships' sterns. Fixed to a shield-shaped piece of dark-stained wood.

Museum classification:

Sea Witchcraft

Size:

300 x 210 x 50

Information:

This bears a strong resemblance to the two crests that were made in 1942 to recognise the adoption of HMS Witch by the people of Northwich (one was presented to the town and one to the ship). However, there are significant differences: for example, the cat has more prominant eyebrows in the originals, and the word WITCH is in a thinner typeface. In the originals the background behind the cat is also coloured bright blue, and the crescent moon is white.

HMS Witch was a destroyer launched in 1924. She escorted military convoys to Norway from the German invasion of Norway in 1940 until 1942. In 1943 she was transferred to escort duties around Sierra Leone. During her wartime service she rescued the crew of the American merchant ship SS Independence Hall and survivors of the torpedoed British merchant ship Empire Whimbrel.

There is a model of HMS Witch on display in the Battle of the Atlantic gallery of Liverpool's Maritime Museum. Interestingly, the rigging is made from human hair, from an unknown Wren (member of the Women's Royal Naval Service).

Resource:

Object

Materials:

Metal (iron), wood

This bears a strong resemblance to the two crests that were made in 1942 to recognise the adoption of HMS Witch by the people of Northwich (one was presented to the town and one to the ship). However, there are significant differences: for example, the cat has more prominant eyebrows in the originals, and the word WITCH is in a thinner typeface. In the originals the background behind the cat is also coloured bright blue, and the crescent moon is white.

HMS Witch was a destroyer launched in 1924. She escorted military convoys to Norway from the German invasion of Norway in 1940 until 1942. In 1943 she was transferred to escort duties around Sierra Leone. During her wartime service she rescued the crew of the American merchant ship SS Independence Hall and survivors of the torpedoed British merchant ship Empire Whimbrel.

There is a model of HMS Witch on display in the Battle of the Atlantic gallery of Liverpool's Maritime Museum. Interestingly, the rigging is made from human hair, from an unknown Wren (member of the Women's Royal Naval Service).