I have recently published story number 296 to my list of short naval stories available here NAVY SMALLER FEATURES with a further 14 (soon to be 15) longer stories here NAVY THINGS. Every now and again, I have left-overs from research, with no obvious pigeon-hole to put them into. Most of the data in this category I ditch, but occasionally there are interesting bits which deserve a viewing. Here are just a few.
1. There has only ever been one H.M.S. Portsmouth! I wonder why, given that Portsmouth is our premier navy port? We have had H.M.S. Chatham, H.M.S. Plymouth, H.M.S. Portland, H.M.S. Falmouth, H.M.S. Londonderry, H.M.S. Pembroke, H.M.S. Rothesay, H.M.S. Penarth, H.M.S. Tiger Bay, H.M.S. Hong Kong, H.M.S. Malta, H.M.S. Gibraltar, H.M.S. Trincomalee, H.M.S. Greenwich, H.M.S. Woolwich, H.M.S. Gosport (see below) to mention the ships which cover the majority of our naval bases. It seems (although it is not explicitly mentioned in my correspondence to ship-namers) that Portsmouth, Devonport, Singapore are purposely bypassed to avoid confusion, and yet they name H.M.S. Hong Kong, Malta and Gibraltar: doesn't make too much sense! Portsmouth, unlike its counterpart in the west country at Devonport does not have a second name (Plymouth in this case) so misses out. In the UK, the chief naval port in Northern Ireland is mentioned; the chief naval port in Wales is mentioned, but the chief naval port in Scotland, Rosyth, doesn't get any mention. The one and only H.M.S. Portsmouth, 1650 - 1694, was a plucky little ship earning for itself no fewer than nine battle honours. First at Dover in 1652 and her last at Barfleur in 1692. This period includes all four Anglo-Dutch wars as well as the Spanish Armada invasion.
2. H.M.S. Gosport. H.M.S. Gosport (1741-1768) was a small 5th rate warship (690 tons) of no real fame. I mention it here, because for a long time, H.M.S. St Vincent lay at an anchorage on the Gosport side of Portsmouth harbour as a boys' training ship. In the mid 1920's the boys' moved ashore to Forton Road Barracks Gosport, the former home of the Royal Marines. On the 13th October 1760, John Jervis became the captain of H.M.S. Gosport. Strange, given the above, that John Jervis became Admiral of the Fleet Sir John Jervis, 1st Earl of St Vincent on the 19th July 1821 after whom, the warship, which became the training ship, was named. The White Ensign was hauled down at HMS St Vincent at the end of the Autumn Term 1968, the final closing ceremony held on the 8th December. Starting on the 4th January 1969 DCI(RN) 185/69 all NE training would eventually be conducted at HMS Raleigh at Torpoint Cornwall. HMS Ganges (see below) met that requirement commencing 1973.
3. H.M.S. Ganges. H.M.S. Ganges (ship of the line 1821-1865) and thereafter, a boys' training ship, was at one time the flag ship for the C-in-C Pacific Station 1857-1860 (which had been the original China Station) Rear Admiral Robert Lambert Baynes CB. Five years later in 1865 he had passed through the rank of Vice Admiral and was promoted to Admiral and knighted with the KCB. However, this is coincidental to my real story here. In 1857, Lieutenant Frederick Richards was appointed to the Ganges and two years latter became the Flag Lieutenant to the C-in-C, leaving in February 1860 to command his own vessel, the paddle sloop Vixen. Thirty eight long years later in 1898, he became Admiral of the Fleet Sir Frederick William Richards GCB. He died in 1912 when aged 79. Many years before, in June 1881, another officer who had served in the Ganges got to the very top. He was Admiral of the Fleet Sir Alexander Milne, 1st Baronet, GCB. He had served in Ganges in the days before 1827 as a midshipman, being promoted out of Ganges as a Master's Mate and Acting Lieutenant.
4. H.M.S. James Watt. H.M.S. James Watt was named after the Scottish engineer who refined the original steam engine which led to the industrial revolution. Can you imagine (in the Royal Navy) having a submarine called H.M.S. Rutherford? Ernest Rutherford split the atom in 1917 which ultimately led to nuclear energy.
5. H.M.S. Nonsuch. I would like to receive a one pound coin for every time in my naval training I have heard the expression H.M.S. Nonsuch used as a 'pretend' ship. H.M.S. Nonsuch was named after a magnificent palace (a real place) built from new (all other palaces were adapted older buildings) in Surrey for King Henry VIII. The building work started in 1538. He died before it was completed. It was eventually pulled down by a hapless wench in 1682, some 144 years later, to help pay off debts she had accumulated. It was called Nonsuch, meaning that no other building could match or compete with its excellence and the King of England was the supreme monarch.
6. THE ONE AND ONLY! True, the submarine service didn't exist before the very start of the 20th century, but out of all the Admirals of the Fleet affected by that innovation, only one made it to the top in the submarine specialisation (by far the largest specialisation was that of a Gunner). Below is a list of his boats which acted as rungs on the promotion ladder in the early days. Who was he?
Subtle, Tiptoe, Thule, Totem, Acheron, Aeneas, Astute, Walrus and Dreadnought.
Correct, and an easy one! Admiral of the Fleet The Lord Fieldhouse of Gosport GCB GBE
As submariners we held this officer in high esteem, and we were genuinely proud of him and his wife Lady Fieldhouse. His life was tragically cut short and he died when just 64 years of age of a massive heart attack. Midge (Margaret), his widow, died this year (2011) aged 84, some 19 years after her husband.
7. Whilst Admirals of the Fleet 'sprang' from HMS Ganges (3, above). As H.M.S. Ganges records two former officers becoming Admirals of the Fleet, her rival, the name of the most prestigious boys' training ship H.M.S. Impregnable, had a far greater claim. In 1814, just as the Napoleonic War Sea Battles were coming to an end, an Admiral flew his Flag in her. His Christian names were William Henry. Just 16 years later in 1830, he would become King William IV. Several years ago I wrote this webpage AS TO RED, WHITE AND BLUE ENSIGNS. Given the information on that page, how is this for rapid promotion which of course helps if your Dad had been King George III, and your older brother is King George IV. Click on the thumbnail below.
8. Finally, although not Royal Navy trivia as the title suggests, just a thing of general maritime interest.
This picture is self explanatory and shows the shoulder boards used in the Cunard Shipping Company. Note the Master wears the similar stripes of an Admiral in the Royal Navy, whilst the Deputy Captain wears the four stripes of a Captain R.N. I can't quite work out why there are two types of Second Officer. Interesting !
