Original price
GBP £ 425
Converted price
Description
DeepL TranslateAn antique military trunk that belonged to Lt Commander Robert Mends who served in the the Royal Navy in WW1 and WW2. The military trunk, like many issued to armed services personnel is very plain. It's a simple trunk made from pine and painted black and it's in great condition for a trunk that's 100 years old. Cmdr Mends' name is painted on the top panel. While restoring the trunk we discovered an older inscription: Lt Mends, which was painted over when he as promoted to Commander.
Antique Military Trunk size: W100cm x D50 x H55
There are also shipping labels on one end and a label: 'On His Majesty's Service: King's Harbour Master, Invergordon'. We have a second antique military trunk that belonged to Cmdr Mends
Lieutenant Commander R.Mends first served at H.M.S. Britannia from January 1904, he is noted as having served at the Battle of Jutland during WW1. He was also King's Harbour Master at Cromarty. In September 1935 he was placed on the Retired List at his own request. He rejoined the service at the start of WW2 and was eventually released from Naval Service on 27th May 1946.
medals awarded to Commander Mends: 1914-15 Star (Lieut, R.Mends, R.N.); British War and Victory Medal with M.I.D. Oakleaf (Lt.Commr. R.Mends. R.N.); Jubilee 1935; France, Legion of Honour, Knight's breast badge; Russia, Order of t.Anne, Knight's breast badge.
Robert Mends came from a long line of distinguished naval officers. His father was a naval surgeon, his grandfather Sir William Robert Mends, GCB (27 February 1812 – 26 June 1897), was an admiral in the Royal Navy. His great randfather, Admiral William Bowen Mends born in Prebrokeshire in 1767. His great, great uncle Captain Sir Robert Mends (c. 1767 – 4 September 1823) was a prominent British Royal Navy officer of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century, who lost an arm in the American War of Independence. Mr. Mends, on being asked after his recovery how he felt whilst the surgeon was performing the painful amputation of his shattered arm replied, “Very well until I saw my arm lying on a table beside me I then became sick.”
Last updated: 22/10/18
