1910 H.M.S. London ‘Sweetheart Brooch/Medallion’ Birmingham Silver Hallmark, in Fitted Case and Postcards. MISC 904. 1910 H.M.S. London ‘Sweetheart Brooch/Medallion’ Birmingham Silver Hallmark, in Fitted Case and Postcards. MISC 904. Miscellaneous

A H.M.S. London ‘Sweetheart Brooch/Medallion’ with a Birmingham Silver Hallmark, in a fitted case and three postcards of H.M.S. London. During the course of the war, servicemen leaving home for the front line had to say goodbye to those they loved, and often left gifts and keepsakes for those they’d be missing. One popular gift was a small brooch depicting the service crest or regimental badge of the soldier in question. This gift was intended for soldiers to show that their home and their families would be in their hearts during their absence. The name ‘sweetheart’ can be misleading here, as it suggests that the item was only given to those in intimate relationships, but this isn’t the case. The sweetheart brooch was given to anyone the soldier would be leaving behind; therefore this could be their wife, parents, and even children. If it was given to a wife or a girlfriend, it was worn by that woman as a symbol of their pride and regard for their soldier. The ‘swivelling’ brooch is 4 ½ cm x 3 ¼ cm in silver with H.M.S. London to one side with a crest between two Dragons and the other is H.M.S. London with hallmarks *pin missing* the Birmingham hallmark dating it to 1910. It is encased in a fitted screw top case *1 ½ cm damage, see pictures* with a magnified window and a manufacturers sticker inside ‘The Welham Mfg Co. Medallists 6 & 8 Gt Chapel St London’. One postcard is 21 ½ cm x 16 ½ cm and is a black and white photograph of H.M.S. London with what appear to be New Year wishes to the front. The second is 14 cm x 8 ½ cm and a copy of an oil painting of H.M.S. London printed by ‘Raphael Tuck & Sons’ Art publishers to the King & Queen. The third is a B&W photograph of H.M.S. London, dated 30.12.1910 and is a New Year message to a sweetheart. A lovely bundle of memorabilia for the collector. The price includes UK delivery. MISC 904.