Chronometers

An antique 2 day military marine chronometer signed A Johannsen No 7888, circa 1912. With an interesting but unfortunate military providence, the chronometer was in service on HMS Apollo D Day plus 1. HMS Apollo was detached for duty in "Operation Neptune" and on 7 June (D-Day+1) she embarked Allied Supreme Commander General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Naval Commander in Chief Admiral Bertram Ramsay, General Bernard Law Montgomery and staff officers from SHAEF, to visit the assault areas.^[2] Unfortunately the minelayer grounded while underway, damaging her propellers, and her passengers were transferred to the destroyerUndaunted.^[1] Apollo took passage to Sheerness and then to the Tyne for repairs, which were completed in September. The ship was then transferred to Western Approaches Command, and deployed in the South-Western Approaches laying deep trap minefields as a countermeasure to U-boat activities in inshore waters.^[1] With minelayer Plover she laid more than 1200 Mk XVII moored mines across the coastal convoy route along the north coast of Cornwall. She started on 29 November 1944 with minefield "HW A1" – this minefield was later fatal to the submarine U-325. On 3 December she laid minefield "HW A3" east of "HW A1". This minefield was later fatal to the submarine U-1021 Size 19cms x 19cms x 22cms GWPC83