English 18 carat gold half hunter cased lever watch Circa 1915

Gold keyless pocket watch
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A historically interesting English 18 carat gold half hunting cased keyless pocket watch with a carefully kept seaman’s book and original presentation box made by W.R. Cogdon in London, circa 1915. Presented to William Henry Fraser, M.B.E., chief engineer of the British steamship Antinous. The case is monogrammed on the back, the front with a white enamel Roman numeral chapter on a translucent blue enamelled ground and is punched with maker’s mark R&S for Rotherham & Sons of Coventry. The dial is white enamel with radial Roman hour numerals, an outer minute track, sunk subsidiary seconds at 6 o’clock and blued double spade hands. It has a signed, frosted gilt ¾ plate movement with an English lever escapement, screwed gold chatons and a screw compensation balance.
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Diameter: 49 mm
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Weight: 101 g
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Signed: W. R. Cogdon London
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The gold cuvette reads the following dedication engraving: Presented to Mr W.H. Fraser by the Egypt & Levant Steamship Co. Ltd. in appreciation of valuable assistance rendered as Chief Engineer of the British Steamer Antinous, which materially assisted in preventing the steamer from falling victim to an enemy submarine on 1st. Sept. 1916. Because of his bravery during the rescue of his ship, William Henry Fraser was also honoured by the British king with the Order of the British Empire (MBE).

The original seaman’s book was issued in 1919 and maintained until 1948. The book gives an excellent insight into the life and journeys of a British naval officer in the merchant navy during the First and Second World Wars.