An exceptional, highly evocative piece of authentic British WWI naval history. This is a copper "haystack" measuring jug, traditionally used by the Royal Navy for measuring out daily liquid or rum rations.
Historical Provenance & Inscription:
The body of the jug features a sharp, period-engraved inscription:
"HMS CONQUEST – MINED 13th June, 1918"
On this exact date in 1918, the Caroline-class light cruiser HMS Conquest struck a naval mine laid by the German submarine UC-11 in the North Sea. The tragic blast killed seven crew members and severely damaged the ship, but she was heroically towed back to Chatham for repairs. This jug was salvaged after the catastrophic explosion.
Official Stamping:
The neck features a clear, authentic lead-filled official verification stamp:
• GR under a Crown: Stands for Georgius Rex (King George V, reigning 1910–1936).14: The official uniform verification district number assigned to the county of Gloucestershire.
K: The specific year letter indicating inspection around 1914–1915, precisely when HMS Conquest was being fitted out for war.
Condition Report:
• Weight: 1.46kg (unpacked).
• Material: Solid hand-hammered copper with a hollow side handle and finger joints.
• Structural Flaws: Offered in completely honest, untouched, as-found condition. Please note that the body is split in several places, and the base also exhibits splits; as a result, it cannot be used to hold liquids and is strictly a historical display piece.
• Surface Wear: There are plenty of dings, small dents, and surface scuffs across the copper shell. This heavy wear directly aligns with the violent mine blast the vessel survived and its active wartime sea service. It retains a beautiful dark, unpolished aged patina.
• Postage & Fast Dispatch:
• I always dispatch fast to ensure your historical item arrives as quickly as possible.Given the item's delicate condition and historic value, it will be securely wrapped in multiple layers of heavy bubble wrap and housed in a rigid double-walled box to prevent any further damage during transport.
• Due to the necessary heavy protective packaging, the box size and weight will fall into the Medium Parcel (5–10kg tier).It will be safely dispatched using eBay's Simple Mail Service, guaranteeing a fully tracked, reliable courier service with tracking updates uploaded straight to eBay.
• International Shipping:
• Global shipping is fully supported! I gladly ship worldwide using the eBay Global Shipping Programme (GSP).I will fast-dispatch the parcel to eBay's secure UK shipping hub, and eBay will safely manage the international tracking, customs clearance, and final delivery to your destination country.
• Returns Policy:
• Because the structural splits, dents, and flaws have been completely and honestly detailed upfront in this description and visible in the photos, no returns will be accepted for this item. Please review all pictures and descriptions carefully before purchasing.