Watchmaker William Wood Watches is donating 10 per cent of sales of its historic limited-edition Dunkirk Watch to the Veterans’ Foundation.
The watchmaker has made just 600 of the iconic watches, which feature parts from the original engine of the London Fire Brigade’s fireship, Massey Shaw that saved 600 lives from the French beaches in 1940.
Veterans’ Foundation buyers will receive a 5% discount and have their name featured on a plaque in the historic ship, before it sets sail for Dunkirk next May to mark the 85th anniversary of Operation Dynamo.
The watch is the brainchild of William Wood’s founder and Chief Executive, Jonny Garrett, whose grandfather was a fireman and after whom he named the company.
The Massey Shaw had sailed to Dunkirk as a fire support vessel, then stayed to tackle fires in oil refineries outside the town. It was one of the first vessels to respond to Churchill’s call for Small Ships and went on to make four trips to help evacuate Allied troops stranded in Dunkirk between May and September 1940.
Of the 850 little ships that made the perilous Channel crossing from Ramsgate to Dunkirk only 60 remain and will take part in the commemoration ceremony next year.
“It is a unique opportunity to be part of history, and we’re very grateful that some of the proceeds of the sale of the watch should go to veterans,” said Veterans’ Foundation’s Fundraising Manager, Sarah Elliott.
“Operation Dynamo is one of the many inspiring events of World War Two and we know that many will be impressed with the watch that has been designed to commemorate it. It is a generous gesture from Jonny and his team at William Wood Watches.”