Historic 16C ship tribute by AOW Founder

A model of the Golden Hind made by Dame Vera Laughton Mathews DBE (1888-1959) which is currently on loan to the Fairlynch Museum in Budleigh Salterton from Dartmouth Museum as part of its upcoming Devon’s New World Explorers Exhibition opens 19 April. It is not known when the model was made.

The first Sea Ranger Company was known as SRS Golden Hind led by Skipper (former WWI WRNS Officer Veronica Erskine).

The second Sea Ranger Company was known SRS Wren led by Skipper Vera Laughton (former WWI WRNS Officer) The first crew of SRS Wren was composed entirely of the most prominent and enthusiastic of the younger members of the Association of Wrens who had also served in WWI. 

Dame Vera was appointed as Director WRNS in 1939 and remained in post until 1946. Her biography ‘Blue Tapestry’ describes the formation of the WRNS and has a comprehensive account of the many varied duties, and locations, of Wrens who served in the Second World War.