R. M. S. Highland Brigade Troopship Ashtray

The RMS Highland Brigade was a 14,131 gross register ton passenger and cargo liner built in 1928 by Harland and Wolff in Belfast. She initially served the Nelson Line before being transferred to Royal Mail Lines in 1932, operating primarily on the London to River Plate route.

During World War II, she was requisitioned as a troopship, operating across the Mediterranean, Middle East, and Asia, and in late 1945 helped repatriating Australian and British former prisoners of war from Singapore. On January 18, 1946, she struck a sea mine and was in danger of sinking but was towed to Singapore with no loss of life. The final photograph attached shows her under tow towards the safety of Singapore, courtesy of the Imperial War Museum archive. In 1947 she resumed on the South America service until sold to John Latsis of Piraeus in 1959 and renamed "Henriett". She was then renamed again the following year "Marianna"and was employed as a Mecca Pilgrimage ship, before being scrapped at Kaohsiung, Taiwan in 1965.

The souvenir ashtray carries a brass and enamel house flag of the Royal Mail Steam Packet Co. London, comprising a white flag with a red saltire overall and to the centre a Crown and below is engraved 'R. M. S. Highland Brigade'. The reverse is marked Made in England and EPNS. The plating is generally in very good conation with just one area of wear on the cigarettes recess at the 4 o'clock position. The ashtray measured 3" x 3" (7.5 cm x 7.5 cm) This is the first item we have ever had an item relating to Highland Brigade in over 20 years of trading, so quite a rare survivor.