[Guzzman]

Hi Paul

The HMS FLINTHAM and the HMS SABRE tallies are genuine but the HMS BARHAM tally is a reproduction.

BARHAM was a battleship in service in the inter-war period and during the war, when she was sunk. Ratings were issued with two types of tally at this time - one with the lettering in gold wire and one with the lettering in silk. Tallies of this period also had a 'dot' at the end of the name.

No ship called Barham has served in the Royal Navy since the war. During the 1960s (the 20th anniversary of the events of the war) there were not enough genuine tallies in existence to satisfy the demand of those veterans who wanted souvenirs of their service, so many reproductions were made - especially of capital ships. And of course, reproductions have continued to be made since then.

The other tallies look fine.

HMS FLINTHAM was one of 93 ships of the 'Ham' class of inshore minesweepers. They were all named after English villages ending in '-ham'. Flintham is in Nottinghamshire - not far from where I live. She was in service between 1955 - 82.

HMS SABRE was a 102-ton patrol boat launched on 21st April 1970 and was one of three boats making up the Fast Training Boat Squadron based at Portland. She was sold in 1983.

There is another HMS SABRE in service today but this is not a tally for her.

On pre-war tallies the lettering was different from those shown on your tallies. This pattern of tally was introduced in the early-1960s and was in use until 1984. Once again two types of tally were issued - one with the lettering in gold-wire and one with the lettering in rayon (a sort of nylon). In 1984 both of these were replaced with a new weave pattern of tally in a new sort of wire. That is how its possible to date your SABRE tally and be specific as to which vessel it was for.

Unfortunately, because of the photographs I am unable to be specific as to whether your tallies are gold-wire or rayon. The fronts look like rayon but the backs look like wire! Sorry! You should be able to work that out for yourself!

I hope that this has been of some help!

Pete