9ct gold, Fully Hallmarked 1941 Cigarette Case 

An absolutely stunning, 9ct gold, hallmarked, rectangular cigarette case, engine turned, and made by the silversmiths Walker and Hall, Sheffield in 1939. This is a magnificent, unique item, museum quality, with a letter of provenance.

The inside inscription reads

PRESENTED TO
P/O (pilot officer) NORMAN TAYLOR D.F.M by his colleagues & workmates of the Standard Aero Engines JULY 1941

RAF Flight Lieutenant Norman Taylor DFC, DFM. “One of the Few”

Norman Taylor was born in Chellaston near Derby and grew up in South Derbyshire. He attended schools in Melbourne, Ashby, and finished his education at Bablake College in Coventry.

He joined the Standard Motor Company in Coventry as an apprentice and then the RAF in January 1939 as the war clouds were forming over Europe. Following pilot training at Prestwick, he joined 601 ‘City of London’ squadron nicknamed “The Millionaires Squadron” in early August 1940. This was based at Tangmere and as a Sergeant pilot he flew throughout the Battle of Britain scoring several kills over the Luftwaffe bomber and fighter force. He was shot down twice and awarded the caterpillar badge from the Irving Parachute Company. After the battle he made further kills flying missions over France and Belgium. In 1941 he was presented with this gold card/cigarette case by his former colleagues at Standard Motor Company, as a mark of respect to his contribution during the Battle of Britain.

In 1941 the catapult launched sea Hurricanes from specially converted merchant ships called Camships; these were deployed to counter long distance four engine Focke-Wolfe FW 200 Condor bombers that threatened Allied convoys. In November 1941 he catapulted from the Camship ‘Empire Heath’ and shot down a Condor, after which he parachuted into the sea, where he was rescued by a British Corvette. After this incident he admitted, that he needed to learn to swim !!!!

For this action he was made an officer and awarded a DFC (Distinguished Flying Cross) to join the DFM (Distinguished Flying Medal) he received during the Battle of Britain. This brought his tally of German planes shot down to 10.

Taylor then joined Rolls Royce Ltd at Derby as a test pilot, and instructed staff on the famous Merlin Engine. He flew many types of planes, on test for the company. Next he joined 222 ‘Natal’ squadron, who were flying twin engine Meteor jet fighters, and took part in the 1946 victory fly past over Buckingham palace.

RAF Flight Lieutenant Norman Taylor DFC, DFM, died in 1948 at the age of 27 when the Harvard aircraft he was flying crashed near Wunsdorf in Germany. He is buried in a commonwealth war grave near Munster, honoured on the memorial to the Battle of Britain pilots, located on the embankment in London, and at the National Arboretum at Alrewas Staffordshire.

Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s speech on the 20th August 1940 stated “Never in the field of human conflict, was so much owed, by so many, to so few” referring to the ongoing efforts of the Royal Air Force, who were at the time fighting the Battle of Britain.

Primarily a Sheffield silversmiths, established in 1845 by George Walker, who secured the Royalty of electroplating for Sheffield. The business was joined by Henry Hall and became Walker & Hall in 1853. They had showrooms all across the UK, in Australia (Melbourne & Adelaide) and in South Africa (Cape Town). Walker & Hall became a limited liability company in 1920, before finally combining with Mappin & Webb and Elkington & Co to become British Silverware Ltd in 1963.

Dimensions:
LxWxD:  4″ x 3.25″ x 0.3″  [10.2 cm x 8.3 cm x 1 cm]
Weight: 4.5 oz   [129 g]

Item #283