This is a sad tale of a Dundee ship, a railway company, the First World War, a pair of scissors – and a pocket watch that led to a man’s death.
The pair of Edwardian silver-gilt ceremonial scissors (illustrated) were used in 1902 to launch the SS Brussels from Gourlay Brothers’ yard at Dundee. It was a 1400-ton vessel built for the Great Eastern Railway Company for the passenger trade between Harwich and Antwerp.
The scissors bear the hallmarks for Wright & Davies, London, 1901 and are inscribed ‘Presented to Miss G. M. Drury in commemoration of the launch of the Great Eastern Railway Company’s steamship ‘Brussels’ at Dundee on 25th March 1902.’ Their ornate sheath was engraved with a ship and train and the town arms of the railway company’s destinations.
The handles were further engraved with the initials GERC, for the railway company. Miss Drury was the daughter of one of its London directors.
During the Great War, the SS Brussels was captained by Charles Fryatt, who was awarded a gold watch by the Admiralty for attempting to ram a German submarine.
The ship was captured by German torpedo boats the following year, whereupon Fryatt’s actions were made known to his captors by the presentation inscriptions on his watch. He was executed soon afterwards, causing international outrage as he was not a member of the armed forces.
“Justice will be done,” pledged The Courier. “Captain Fryatt’s death will be avenged!”
The King attended his memorial at St Paul’s and, thereafter, a pilot boat which plied the Tay at Dundee between the wars bore his name.
The scissors appeared at Bonham’s in London on February 12, where they were a snip at £850.
Picture: Ceremonial scissors, £850 (Bonham’s).
