A piece of history, wrapped in intrigue and maritime legend, is about to go under the hammer, whether the Royal Navy likes it or not. A large copper relic from the infamous HMS Bounty, the ship at the heart of one of the most notorious mutinies in history, is set to be auctioned despite an ongoing dispute over its ownership.
The relic, complete with a patch of barnacles clinging to its surface, was salvaged from the waters off Pitcairn Island, the remote Pacific haven where the mutineers scuttled the Bounty in 1790. It was retrieved in the 1970s by RAF serviceman John Coleman, who was stationed at RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire. For decades, it sat proudly on his mantelpiece in Benfleet, Essex, until his passing in 2014, when it was passed down to his daughter.
Now, the artefact is due to be auctioned by Hansons Auctioneers in Derby, with an estimated price tag of £1,000-£1,500. However, the Royal Navy has stepped in, claiming the relic rightfully belongs to the Crown and calling for the auction to be halted until ownership issues are resolved.
Matt Crowson, a consultant at Hansons, remains firm in the auction house’s stance: “We haven’t been presented with any clear indication of on what basis the Royal Navy believe the artefact should not be sold.” With no legal claim put forward, the sale is moving ahead as planned.
Coleman’s connection to the Bounty is more than just a salvaged fragment of copper. In 1973, as an RAF chief technician, he was sent to Pitcairn to establish a radio station for the islanders, many of whom are direct descendants of the Bounty mutineers. During his time there, he explored the legendary wreck and even assisted in raising one of the ship’s cannons from the seabed. His handwritten logs from this extraordinary experience are included in the auction lot.
The tale of the HMS Bounty is one of high-seas rebellion, adventure, and survival. Originally built in Hull and commissioned by the Royal Navy in 1787, the ship was tasked with transporting breadfruit plants from Tahiti to the Caribbean under the command of Captain William Bligh. But in 1789, Bligh’s men, led by Fletcher Christian, staged a mutiny, casting their captain and his loyalists adrift in an open boat. Against all odds, Bligh navigated 4,000 miles (6,500 km) to safety in Kupang, modern-day Indonesia, cementing his place in maritime history.
The mutiny’s legacy has endured for centuries, inspiring multiple Hollywood adaptations featuring silver-screen icons such as Clark Gable, Marlon Brando, Anthony Hopkins, and Mel Gibson. Now, a tangible piece of that legendary story is about to change hands, unless the Royal Navy can intervene in time.
A representative for the Navy stated: “We are liaising with the auction house regarding an artefact from HMS Bounty and have requested that it is removed from the auction until ownership issues are clarified.”
For now, history is on the auction block, and the hammer is poised to fall. Whether the relic remains in private hands or returns to the Crown, one thing is certain, the legacy of the Bounty continues to stir the waters of controversy.
