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Lot Essay
The present watch was given to the late Captain J. Henderson Smith by Mr. Roberts in gratitude for the rescue of passengers and crew of the Yacht "Bamba".
Captain John Henderson Smith was the Commander of the Royal Navy's school ship "H.M.S. Worcester" for 25 years. He passed away in December 1904 at the age of 78.
During his long and successful career Captain Smith trained Togo Heihachiro as a cadet in 1872 who later became an admiral. Known as Admiral Togo, he was one of Japan's greatest naval heroes, called 'the Nelson of the East'.
The album accompanying the watch is a wonderful collection of original letters, newspapers clippings and black and white photographs related to Captain Smith's life.
The Army & Navy Cooperative Society Limited
The Army & Navy Cooperative Society Limited was founded in London in 1871 and was the first and most successful cooperative retailer with branches throughout the British Empire and India. The firm's goal was to offer "The Very Best English Goods" at reasonable prices. In the records of the Kew Observatory they are listed as makers of high-quality complicated watches which did well at the trials at the turn of the century. The present watch with its double overcoil hairspring most certainly participated at such a trial.
Captain John Henderson Smith was the Commander of the Royal Navy's school ship "H.M.S. Worcester" for 25 years. He passed away in December 1904 at the age of 78.
During his long and successful career Captain Smith trained Togo Heihachiro as a cadet in 1872 who later became an admiral. Known as Admiral Togo, he was one of Japan's greatest naval heroes, called 'the Nelson of the East'.
The album accompanying the watch is a wonderful collection of original letters, newspapers clippings and black and white photographs related to Captain Smith's life.
The Army & Navy Cooperative Society Limited
The Army & Navy Cooperative Society Limited was founded in London in 1871 and was the first and most successful cooperative retailer with branches throughout the British Empire and India. The firm's goal was to offer "The Very Best English Goods" at reasonable prices. In the records of the Kew Observatory they are listed as makers of high-quality complicated watches which did well at the trials at the turn of the century. The present watch with its double overcoil hairspring most certainly participated at such a trial.