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Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
HMS Churchill Plaque
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.

HMS Churchill Plaque

Artifact IDMO 1952.37
Object Type Plaque
Maker
Dateca. 1951
Mediumpaint on brass
Dimensionsoverall H 18 1/2 in x W 14 1/8 in x D 1 3/8 in (47 cm x 35.9 cm x 3.5 cm )
Physical DescriptionAn oval, brass "ship's badge" or plaque from the HMS Churchill (formerly the USS Herndon). A heraldic device on the front features a white lion with a red tongue and claws - marked with a white and blue star on its body - rampant on a background of blue and white. The lion is holding a red flag on which is a white hand. Topping the plaque is a "crown" made of a ship and sails seen from various angles. The name CHURCHILL is below the crown. The plaque likely originated as a muzzle cover (tampion) for one the ship's guns.

The plaque comes with three large metal bolts for attaching.
Historical NoteThe USS Herndon was one of 50 overage American destroyers FDR transferred to Great Britain in the September 1940 “destroyers for bases” deal. The British renamed the ship the HMS Churchill. This brass “ship’s badge” was displayed on the ship during the war. The British Admiralty presented it to the Roosevelt Library in September 1951.
Additional Details
Credit LineGift of the British Board of Admiralty
National Archives Catalog CollectionFranklin D. Roosevelt Library Museum Collection (National Archives Identifier 735948)
National Archives Catalog SeriesGift Items and Commemorative Artifacts (National Archives Identifier 782690)
Use Restriction StatusUnrestrictedCopyrightReproduction or other use of these holdings or images thereof is unrestricted.
In Collection(s)
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Not on view
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