Between October 1941 and the end of
March 1942, Warships Weeks were organised in cities, towns and villages
throughout Great Britain. The intention was to raise a sum by
investment or deposit in all types of war savings representing the cost
of building one of His Majesty’s ships ranging from the smallest to the
largest vessels. Once the target had been raised the community adopted
the vessel along with its crew and the bond was strengthened by
presentations in recognition of the money raised. Adoption plaques were
presented by the Admiralty to the community and a plaque presented by
the community to the adopted vessel. Links were maintained by the
writing of letters and the provision of comforts and whenever possible
visits were arranged to the adopting area. Most of the V&W Class
destroyers in commission with the Royal Navy were adopted during the
Warship Week scheme and in a number of cases local sea cadet units
later took the name of the ship. To
find more about Warship Weeks see Peter Schofield’s article on‘National Savings and Warship Weeks’.
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Nuneaton raised £400,756 during its Warships Week, the equivalent of £6 15s 10d per head.
The presentation of a plaque recording the adoption made by the Mayor to Vice-Admiral C. Tibbitts was reported in the Coventry Evening Telegraph on Monday 26 October 1942 nearly a year after the successful Warships Week.
Pleaseget in touchif you are able to provide further details or photographs regarding the
adoption of HMS Vanquisher by Nuneaton.
If
you want to find out more about the wartime service of a member of your
family who served on HMS Vanquisher
you should first obtain a copy of their service record
If
you have stories or photographs of HMS Vanquisher you would like to
contribute to the web site please contact Bill Forster
Return
to the Home Page for HMS Vanquisher Return to the Home Page of the V & W Destroyer Association Return to the Index Page for the 69
V & W Class Destroyers
Return to the Home Page for Warship Weeks