Sometimes when researching articles for this blog, I struggle to find much information about an object. The reasons behind this are varied, sometimes an object is too unusual to have much written about it, other times the reasons are less obvious. Tonight we have a pair of souvenir pennants from two early post war Battle Class destroyers, HMS Aisne and HMS Agincourt. I have tried to find out anything about these pennants and whilst I can find a few pictures, there is very little information. They seem to have been more of an Australian Navy thing than something widespread within the Royal Navy, but clearly they were produced at times, as witnessed by this pair. If anyone collects these and can offer more information then as ever please get in touch.

The first of the two pennants is for HMS Agincourt:This is made from a purple nylon, overprinted with the ship’s name and badge:Two cotton loops allow it to be hung up as required:HMS Agincourt was launched in 1945 and commissioned in 1947 and she served in the 4^th Destroyer Flotilla in both home waters and in support of the Suez Crisis. In 1959 she was converted into a radar picket ship with anti-aircraft weaponry, Sea Cat missiles and new radar:She was reduced to the reserve in 1966, so this pennant must pre-date that.

The second pennant is better made and is for HMS Aisne, another Battle Class Destroyer:This pennant is printed in full colour and again includes the ship’s badge:Felt tassels are fitted rather than loops:HMS Aisne was also launched in 1945 and commissioned in 1947 and her career mirrored that of HMS Agincourt with service in the Home and Mediterranean fleets and conversion to a Radar Picket ship. HMS Aisne lasted a little longer than Agincourt and was decommissioned in 1968, before scrapping in 1970.These pennants are attractive souvenirs and will look particularly nice hung up in my ‘man cave’.