Type I
Movement: Omega, unsigned
Case diameter: 48 mm
Outer case inscribed: SIEGE OF LADYSMITH. / 118 DAYS / 1899-1900 / [A. CAPRON. / ORD. SEA. BUGLER] / H.M.S. POWERFUL.
Dial inscribed: [unsigned]
Movement inscribed: [unsigned]
Serial number (on case): 1601087 (two watches examined share the first four digits: 1601)
Case with Swiss ‘rampant bear’ hallmarks, and impressed: 0,935 / OMEGA / H / 12 / 1601087
Type II
Movement: Samuel Smith & Son
Case diameter: 51 mm
Outer case inscribed: SIEGE OF LADYSMITH. / 118 DAYS / 1899-1900 / [H. THURSTON. / A.B.] / H.M.S. POWERFUL.
Dial inscribed: S. SMITH & SON / 9 STRAND / WATCHMAKERS TO THE ADMIRALTY / LONDON / SWISS MADE
Movement inscribed: S. Smith & Son, 9 Strand, / WATCHMAKERS TO THE ADMIRALTY / LONDON / SWISS MADE
Serial number (on case): 1097367 (all watches examined share the first three digits: 109; the majority start: 1097)
Case with Swiss ‘rampant bear’ hallmarks, and impressed: 0,935 / 1097367
Note: The watch to 185864 Able Seaman Frederick George CAPRON exists in both forms: Type II sold through DNW, 19th September 2013; Type I in my own collection. Both watches incorrectly engraved "A. CAPRON. ORD. SEA. BUGLER".
The Samuel Smith & Son watches are the timepieces that were presented to the Naval Brigade. Those made by Omega are rejected watches, which found their way to a Southsea jeweller, who sold them to the general public as “historical” souvenirs (see below).
On 29th March 1900, the Manchester Courier reported:
“The members of the Naval and Military Club, London, have written to the Mayor of Portsmouth informing him that they are subscribing to present each member of the crew of the Powerful Naval Brigade with a silver watch. They ask his worship to present the watches at the dinner to be given to the brigade by the people of Portsmouth, and he has undertaken to do so”.
A few days after this announcement, several newspapers inserted corrections:
“There is no truth in the report that the members of the Naval and Military Club are subscribing to present each member of the crew of the Powerful’s Naval Brigade with a silver watch” (Nottingham Evening Post, 7th April 1900).
The error seems to have arisen from the fact that the letter asking the Mayor of Portsmouth to present the watches was written on Naval and Military Club note-paper.
Later, it was made clear that the donors, a group of “London admirers”, wished to remain anonymous. This group appears to have been a small one. A report in the London Daily News, (08/06/1900) states that the watches were "a present from three gentlemen in London".
Despite the donors' request for anonymity, the identity of the principal subscriber was later disclosed as Sir Thomas Freake, ex-Mayor of Dartmouth:
Sir Thomas Freake “raised the funds (subscribing largely himself) for presenting the blue jackets who were at the Relief [sic; Siege] of Ladysmith with silver watches in commemoration of the event. Sir Thomas himself designed the case, a task greatly to his liking. He is a connoisseur in design …” (Exeter Flying Post, 25th August 1900).
Sir Thomas had recently returned from the Cape, having accompanied Buller’s force during the operations to relieve Ladysmith. His mission had been “to see what an outsider could do in the way of help for the suffering" (Exeter Flying Post, 25/08/1900).
Illustration in The Graphic, 30th June 1900. The typeface used for the inscription indicates that this is an image of a Type I Omega watch; the caption, on the other hand, states that the watches were supplied by Samuel Smith & Son:
“Messrs Samuel Smith and Son supplied the watches. The cases are plain silver full hunters, very close fitting so as to be damp-proof. The movement has a special escapement to withstand vibration and change of temperature. Instead of steel they have gold hands to prevent damage from damp”.
It had been intended to present the watches to the Naval Brigade at the dinner organised by the City of Portsmouth, on 24th April 1900. However, the quality of the original watches was deemed inadequate by the donors, and, as a result they were rejected. These were the “Omega” watches.
New Samuel Smith & Son watches were ordered, but these were not ready in time for the ceremony:
“The Mayor hoped to be able to present each man of the Naval Brigade with a watch, but owing to the inability of the manufacturers to provide them in time he would have to pay a visit to Portsmouth and distribute them when they arrived” (Taunton Courier, 2nd May 1900).
220 [of 286] watches were eventually presented by the Mayor of Portsmouth at a ceremony conducted under the poop of H.M.S. Powerful on 7th June 1900:
“THE POWERFUL PAID OFF. WATCHES PRESENTED TO THE LADYSMITH MEN.
The Mayor of Portsmouth (Mr H.R. Pink) on Thursday presented a silver watch to every officer and man of the Powerful’s Ladysmith Brigade. The watches had been subscribed for by a few London admirers of the splendid services rendered by the Powerful’s men during the siege of Ladysmith. It will be remembered that about 284 men were landed under Captain the Hon. Hedworth Lambton, of whom thirty-seven died or were killed, and thirty were left behind.
The presentation took place under the Powerful’s poop, and the Mayor, who was accompanied by the Mayoress, was received on his arrival by Captain Lambton. The Brigade was mustered, and as quickly as possible every member of it was handed a silver English lever hunting watch, with a guarantee as to it being a good time-keeper from the makers. On the outer case was the inscription: ‘Siege of Ladysmith; 118 days; 1899-1900’. Then followed the man’s name and rating.
[The Mayor explained that the watches] were given by a few persons who wished to recognise the splendid services rendered by the Powerful’s men in the siege of Ladysmith, but they did not wish their names mentioned. He had express instructions not to let their names be known. He was sorry that the watches came too late for presentation at the dinner. He hoped everyone would value his watch as a memento of what the sailors did at Ladysmith, and that should the Navy be ever again called upon to assist the soldiers in a tight corner, it would reply as readily as the Powerful did on the occasion in question” (Portsmouth Evening News, 8th June 1900).
It was also noted that "watches are to be sent to relatives of the deceased; and those who were not able to be present will receive them hereafter".
Movements of the Omega and Samuel Smith & Son watches
Rather than scrap the rejected Omega watches, the suppliers made the mistake of selling them on, complete with engraved recipients’ names.
The discounted watches found their way to a Southsea jeweller, prompting 175555 Able Seaman George JACOBS to write the following letter to the editor of the London Weekly Dispatch. It was published in full on 14th October 1900:
“Dear Sir – I would feel greatly obliged to you if you will insert the following: I, being an able seaman, late of H.M.S. Powerful, and having taken part in the defence of Ladysmith, received a silver presentation watch bearing my name and rating upon it.
I have also seen one exactly the same as my own in a shop window in Southsea, bearing my name and rating on it.
I have inspected the one at the shop, and it is exactly the same, but having a different number and works.
I am continually getting abused by my late shipmates for having disposed of mine, which I have not done, it being in my possession now, and always has been since presented to me.
I have written to the makers of the watches concerning the matter, and I have received a letter saying that my watch is under guarantee and that the one at the shop is one of a number made to the first specification, but refused by the donors, and being thrown on the makers’ hands they were sold at a reduced price as historical watches, and there were no warranties issued with them.
I should feel greatly obliged to you if I can use your valuable paper as a means of letting the general public know that it is not us sailors who have disposed of our presentation watches.
I should like this to catch the eyes of the donors of these presents as I think they ought to know about it.
I remain, yours truly, GEORGE JACOBS, A.B., late H.M.S. Powerful. 11 Mess, H.M.S. Duke of Wellington, Portsmouth”.
This was followed by a report in the Portsmouth Evening New, 19th October 1900:
“The men of the Powerful’s Naval Brigade have a real and serious grievance. It appears that the makers of the presentation silver watches had the first batch thrown upon their hands because they did not meet with the approval of the donors, and these watches, bearing the names and ratings of the Powerful’s men, are now on sale at a reduced price. The impression created in the minds of persons who see these watches on sale must naturally be very unfavourable to our bluejackets, as it appears that they have made haste to convert the presents of their patriotic admirers into hard cash. In justice to these men, therefore, these rejected watches should be at once withdrawn from sale”.
Able Seaman’s Jacobs’s grievance was taken up by well-known Portsmouth solicitor, Edwin J.T. Webb, who wrote to the Portsmouth Evening News.
His letter was published on 20th October 1900:
"[TO THE EDITOR OF THE “EVENING NEWS”]
DEAR SIR, – In yours of yesterday’s date you comment in a leaderette as to the grievance which the men of the Powerful’s Naval Brigade have against the makers of the watches which the Mayor was good enough to present to them.
Mr George Jacobs, an A.B. of H.M.S. Powerful, was one of the recipients, and felt very annoyed to find that a watch bearing his name and rating was exhibited in a shop in this borough.
On his instructions I have been in communication with the makers, and their representative met Mr Jacobs at my office yesterday, and on behalf of the firm expressed their regret that any unpleasantness had been caused him or any other members of the Naval Brigade, and stated that the firm did not realise that in putting the rejected watches on the market they would be prejudicing the recipients.
The firm now admit their error, and the watch case bearing Mr Jacob’s name and rating was handed by their representative to me; and I am assured by him that the firm has at considerable cost obtained possession of all the rejected watches, and will not reissue the same.
My client, Mr Jacobs, was naturally wrath that a watch bearing his name should have been exhibited for sale, but he is now satisfied with the explanation made by the makers.
I am, Sir, yours obediently,
EDWIN J.T. WEBB
1 Queen Street, Portsea,
October 20th, 1900".
Dials of the Omega and Samuel Smith & Son watches
Cases of the Omega and Samuel Smith & Son watches
Postscript.
The first watch to be sold at auction went under the hammer at the beginning of December 1900. It sold for £3 17s 6d. The watch was inscribed to 167361 Able Seaman Ernest William ABRAM. Was this one of the Omega Type I watches, or did Abram sell his watch only 6 months after being presented with it?
Morning Post, 8th December 1900
Another was stollen from 165588 Able Seaman Frederick HUMPHREYS at the beginning of July 1900. Although the alleged thief was committed for trial, the watch was not recovered:
“ONE OF THE ‘POWERFUL’ WATCHES – At Marylebone, a laundress named Mary Smith, aged thirty-five, was charged with robbing Frank Humphreys, of H.M.S. Powerful, of the silver watch and chain presented to him by the Mayor of Portsmouth, and valued at £4 5s. Prosecutor went into a public-house in the Edgware Road, where prisoner and some other women forced their company upon him. He refused to have anything to do with them, but when he left the house prisoner followed him, and in Chapel Street threw her arms around his neck and commenced to hug and kiss him. A police-sergeant was looking on, and prisoner left saying ‘You go your way and I’ll go mine’. Immediately afterwards he missed his watch and communicated with the police, who arrested prisoner, but the watch has not yet been recovered. Prisoner was committed for trial” (Illustrated Police News, 7th July 1900).