Extremely Rare Omega 1953 RAF “Thin Arrow” Pilots Wristwatch.
At the beginning of 1952, in the midst of the Cold War and ongoing hostilities in Korea, The British Air Ministry ordered 5,900 wristwatches from its long-standing London supplier, Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Ltd. They, in turn, contracted Omega to manufacture the watches to the precise specification of the Air Ministry. The original order was issued to Omega on 27 June 1952 and delivery of the watches was to be made in May 1953.
The Omega Thin Arrow watches were designed and manufactured to a very high standard. They were originally made to be waterproof and the 283 calibre shockproof movement was finished in rose gold. The inner casing was constructed from soft iron to make the watch anti-magnetic. This ensured that the aircraft’s instruments did not affect the watch’s crucial performance during flight operations.
Interestingly, these watches were originally issued with “Thin Arrow” radium dials. However, these were considered too dangerous by the MoD when stockpiled and they were therefore recalled and redialled with safer Tritium “Fat Arrow” dials.
It is believed only around 5,900 of these watches were ever manufactured and issued to the RAF in May 1953. Consequently, they are rather appropriately referred to today as the “53 Omegas”.
Due to the majority of the original radium dials having been replaced by the MoD, it is thought that only a few hundred or so Omega Thin Arrow examples still survive. Many of these are often found in a poor state of repair. As such, good unrestored and original examples are extremely scarce and are often very difficult to find.
The exquisite Omega “Thin Arrow” for sale appears to retain its original A.F.210. style khaki webbed strap and comes from the family of the original owner, Lt. Col Arthur Desmond Andrews MC RA (117504).
Lt. Col Andrews served with the 69th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, in Iceland at the beginning of World War II.
He landed on the Normandy beaches with the 49th Infantry Division – nicknamed the Polar Bears – on 7th June 1944 and advanced through Normandy, Picardy, Belgium and Holland.
Lt. Col Andrews was awarded the Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry as a forward observation officer in an action on 25th September 1944, on the north-side of the Antwerp-Turnhout Canal, Southeast of Rijkevorsel, Belgium.
The citation, dated 6 November 1944, reads as follows:
“On 25 Sep 44 on the NORTH side of the ANTWERP – TURNHOUT Canal SE of RIJKEVORSEL, Capt Andrews was FOO with Lt-Col (F.P.BARCLAY DSO MC) & Coy of inf who were working in an independent role on the left flank of the Bn.
A very determined effort was made by the enemy to cut off and surround this Coy. The Coy was under close and intense small arms fire, but in spite of this and regardless of his own personal safety, Capt Andrews directed arty fire with great accuracy.
Over a period of 8 hrs, whilst in extremely close contact with the enemy, Capt Andrews continued to assist and advise the inf Coy Comd and directed arty fire whenever necessary from very exposed posns.
It was undoubtedly due to the fine work of Capt Andrews that this determined enemy attack was broken up by arty fire and that the Coy was eventually able to withdraw from an extremely difficult posn and rejoin the Bn during the night.
At times this Officer and his jeep were under direct fire from the enemy. Altho’ his Carrier was penetrated with bullets on more than one occasion whilst he was with it, he continued to transmit messages through his wireless set within.
This coolness and devotion to duty undoubtedly saved the inf from heavy losses and enabled them eventually to fight their way through the cordon of enemy that surrounded them”.
Interestingly, Lt. Col Andrew’s citation was signed and ratified by none other than Field Marshall Bernard Montgomery, in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief of 21st Army Group, and his award of the Military Cross was confirmed on the 1st March 1945.
Further information regarding the 49th Infantry Division, aka the Polar Bears, and their liberation of Rijkevorsel can be found here: https://www.liberationroute.com/en/stories/153/de-polar-bears-bevrijden-rijkevorsel
Lt. Col Andrews gained his pilot wings in 1945 and was a founding member of the new Army Air Corps on 1st September 1957. He retired from active duty in 1974.
A file containing details of Lt. Col Andrew’s military service, including a copy of his Military Cross citation, accompanies the watch.
