Page 14 - G.H. Markes and Crew

The crews air bombardier Flight Lieutenant Vernon Thomas Wilkes DFC, RAF (retired) passed
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away in Ipswich Hospital on 2 May 2013 aged 92 years. This Rolex watch was put up for auction
in Colchester in February 2016. The brand is famous for its craftsmanship and prestige, perhaps
the reason Vernon Wilkes bought one of its Oyster Royalite Observatory watches in 1943.

In the letter he explained the watch had been the only one aboard his Lancaster which continued
to operate during a particularly cold raid, ʻ thereby ensuring our survival ʼ

For this reason, Mr Wilkes wrote, he did not want to see it scrapped due to its sentimental value
and Rolex duly assisted by effecting a repair on the watch for him.

The watch left Mr Wilkes’ possession before his death and has since been in the hands of
collectors. It is now being sold by Reeman Dansie in Colchester in its fine arts and antiques
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auction next Tuesday (February 16 ) with an estimated sale price of £1,000 to £1,500.
Auctioneer and Valuer Daniel Wright said: ʻIt is fascinating because it has this letter with it which
details this gentleman’s reliance upon the watch, it’s quite interesting that it was the only watch to
keep going through bombing raids and keep them alive ʼ

Rare Second World War British RAF bomber pilots Rolex Oyster Royalite Observatory wristwatch
with red centre sweep seconds, luminous hands and Arabic numerals with inner red twenty-four
hour markers, screw-down crown in stainless steel case, 3cm diameter numbered 202181,
complete with canvas and leather straps. Sold with fascinating original correspondence from the
owner Flight lieutenant Vernon Wilkes, RAF 150 Squadron to Rolex in 1975. ʻ I purchased it in
Winnipeg in 1943. This watch is of great sentimental value to me as it was the only watch in our
aircraft which did not stop through extreme cold on a particular bombing raid I was on, during the
war, thereby ensuring our survival ʼ

A fascinating military watch with wonderful provenance.

The report by the Auction House states that:

The watch is currently working although we cannot guarantee the accuracy of its timekeeping. The
hands set and adjust correctly. Dial very original good unrestored condition, discolouration and
deterioration of the luminescent paint and slight corrosion to the hands. The case is in good
condition commensurate with age, the back of the case has a milled edge which is worn/slightly
burred. Winding crown screws down tightly.
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The watch was purchased by an unknown buyer on the 16 February 2016 for £1700.