HMS: Historical Maritime Society

08/08/2024

In the days when we used to do film and tv work on the Trincomalee, before the National Museum of the Royal Navy Hartlepool took over things.

09/05/2024

A bit like busses, none for ages and then a load come along all at once! More 'cuttlefish' drill.

08/05/2024

Cutlass Drill in 1900.

03/05/2024

Captain Frederic John 'Johnnie' Walker CB DSO and 3 Bars RN, it was to Walker that the Allies turned to safeguard the Normandy invasion fleet from U-boat attack. The German submarines did not pe*****te his shield.
The Battle of the Atlantic was an international effort, straining the sinews of sailors, airmen, shipbuilders, dockyard workers, scientists and the armaments industry. But if any individual could claim to have turned the tide against the U-boat, then it would be Captain Frederic John ‘Johnnie’ Walker, a man who destroyed more U-boats than any other – at least 14, perhaps 20. Walker was a naval hero in the mould of Drake or Nelson and Winston Churchill himself admitted that without triumph in the Battle of the Atlantic, Britain was in danger of losing the war, Walkers name is today associated with two British sloop ships, Starling and Stork. Based in Liverpool and sailing from Gladstone Dock, Johnnie Walker is quoted as saying, “They have given me a free hand and I’m going to show them what I can do”.
Walker received a command in October 1941, taking control of the 36th Es**rt Group, commanding from the Bittern-class sloop Stork. The es**rt group comprised two sloops (including Stork) and six corvettes and was based in Liverpool, home of Western Approaches Command. Initially his Group was primarily used to es**rt convoys to and from Gibraltar.
His first chance to test his innovative methods against the U-boat menace came in December when his group es**rted Convoy HG 76 (32 ships). During the journey five U-boats were sunk, four by Walker's group, including U-574 which was depth-charged and rammed by Walker's own ship on 19 December.
It was the formation of the 2nd Support Group (2SG) in the summer of 1943 which cemented Walker’s reputation, however. Two factors were key: the creation of dedicated hunting groups, rather than U-boat es**rts, and what Walker called the ‘creeping’ attack. One ship would direct another in for the kill, dropping a succession of depth charges at nine-second intervals. The method gave the foe no warning – and no escape.
On 6 November 1943 Walker's group sank U-226 and U-842. In early 1944 Walker's group displayed their efficiency against U-boats by sinking six in one patrol. On 31 January 1944 Walker's group gained their first kill of the year when they sank U-592. On 9 February his group sank U-762, U-238, and U-734 in one action, and then sank U-424 on 11 February, and U-264 on 19 February. On 20 February 1944 one of Walker's group, HMS Woodpecker, was torpedoed and sank seven days later while being towed home; all of her crew were saved.
Captain Walker and his men, returned to their base at Liverpool to the thrilled jubilation of the city's inhabitants and the Admiralty. The First Lord of the Admiralty was present to greet Walker and his ships. Walker was awarded a second bar to his DSO. First Lord of the Admiralty, A V Alexander, is quoted as saying, “one of the greatest cruises, the greatest cruise perhaps, ever undertaken in this war by an es**rt group”. For his service he received the following awards:
Companion of the Order of the BathCB 14.09.1943 destruction of 2 U-boats, Western Approaches 24.06.43 [presented to next-of-kin]
Distinguished Service Order DSO 06.01.1942 defending convoy 3 U-boats sunk [investiture 03.11.42]
Distinguished Service Order DSO 30.07.1942 Murmansk convoys [investiture 03.11.42]
Distinguished Service Order DSO 22.02.1944 destruction U-boat, Western Approaches, 06.11.43 [presented to next-of-kin]
Distinguished Service Order DSO 13.06.1944 6 U-boats sunk in 10 days [presented to next-of-kin]
MID* 16.08.1940 Dunkirk 06.40
Mention in Despatches MID 20.06.1944 U-boat probably sunk, Western Approaches
Mention in Despatches MID 01.08.1944 destruction U473, Western Approaches, 06.05.44
* Mentioned in Despatches
Liverpool greet the Starling, her sister sloops and Captain Johnnie Walker on their return to Liverpool.February 1944.
It was to Walker that the Allies turned to safeguard the Normandy invasion fleet from U-boat attack a few months later. The German submarines did not pe*****te his shield. The one victim of Normandy, however, was Walker. He died from a stroke on July 7 1944 caused by months of overwork and exhaustion. A very public funeral in Liverpool and burial at sea followed, although Walker would probably have baulked at the former. He hated the press accolades, the tag of hero. “Please don’t call me the ‘ace U-boat killer’,” he pleaded during one public engagement.
“That formidable character is a thousand British Jack Tars.”(liverpoolpicturebook)

25/04/2024

'Per Mare, Per Terram', it's what they do BEST!
Well done the 'Royals'!

04/04/2024

World Drummer's Day which is celebrated on April 4, or 4/4, which acts as a little nod to the timing that most drummers learn first.
Well done the 'Royals'!

16/03/2024

Well done the 'Royals'!

14/03/2024

Getting to see the bits of the ship that most of HMS got to see over the years of doing events aboard the 'Trinc'!

Behind the Scenes Conservation Tour

Discover HMS Trincomalee’s hidden secrets in a behind the scenes look at the life of Europe’s oldest floating warship.

Join our conservation team as they explore areas normally not accessible to the public and find out how we care for this unique example of British maritime history.

Dates: 26 and 28 March

Capacity: 8 per session (aged 14+)

FREE with your annual ticket

To book, please click here - https://bit.ly/3TwraR3

28/02/2024

After all the 'refits' she has had, there is not that much of the original but with 246 years of service as of 2024, she is still the world's oldest naval vessel still in commission.

15/02/2024

14 février 1797 : bataille du cap Saint-Vincent. La flotte espagnole - 24 vaisseaux - commandée par le lieutenant-général Córdova est défaite au sud-ouest du Portugal par une escadre britannique - 15 vaisseaux - commandée par l'amiral John Jervis. (Les forces espagnoles sont à relativiser, seule la moitié des 24 de leurs vaisseaux combat véritablement durant l'affrontement.)

Les Espagnols perdent 800 hommes tués ou blessés et 3000 prisonniers. Quatre de leurs vaisseaux sont capturés dont deux trois-ponts de 112 canons : le Salvador del Mundo (1787) et le San José (1783).

Un certain Horatio Nelson, alors commodore, se distingue durant la bataille.

Peinture signée Antonio de Brugada (1804-1863) représentant le vaisseau de 74 canons Pelayo (au premier plan) venant en aide à la fameuse Santísima Trinidad (deuxième plan) durant la bataille du cap Saint-Vincent. Museo Naval de Madrid.

25/01/2024

Great effort, 'Well done that Royal'!

🙌👏 Huge congratulations to Cpl Ben Clough RM, who has been awarded the Bear Grylls Unsung Hero Award for his charitable endeavours for RMA - The Royal Marines Charity. We are really grateful to Ben for his incredible efforts in supporting our Charity!

Ben - a super-fit Royal Marines Physical Training Instructor at Commando Training Centre Royal Marines in Devon – last summer ran 482 miles from Scotland to Wales in nine consecutive days - and climbed Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) raising over £13,000 for RMA – The Royal Marines Charity and MIND.

14/12/2023

On this day, the Bayonnaise a French 24-gun corvette, launched in 1793 of 580 tons and 125-ft. length, she was armed with 24 eight-pounders and four light “obusier”. The latter were short-barrelled, close-range weapons, the French answer to the British carronade, and of use only when ships were lying close together, ideally hull-to-hull. Her normal crew was about 220. Designed originally as a privateer, she was taken on the French Navy while still on the stocks. Her light armament fitted her well for a privateering, commerce-raiding role, but was likely to put her at a severe disadvantage if she encountered any larger vessel.
HMS Ambuscade was, by contrast, much more powerful, a 32-gun frigate that had seen successful service against the French in the American Revolutionary War. Though her dimensions were generally similar to the Bayonnaise , and though she carried a similarly sized crew, her armament was considerably heavier – 26 twelve-pounders, a total of eight six-pounder bow and stern chasers, four eighteen-pounder carronades on the quarterdeck and two on the forecastle. In any ship-to-ship action between the two vessels the Bayonnaise might have been expected to have little chance of survival.

From August 1798, at a time when the Royal Navy’s blockade of the French coast was becoming ever more effective, HMS Ambuscade, commanded by Captain Henry Jenkins, was ordered to patrol off the French Atlantic coast. At dawn on 14th December, when she was cruising off the Gironde estuary, and expecting to meet HMS Stag, she sighted a sail. Assuming this to be the Stag, she steered closer. The newcomer was in fact the Bayonnaise which, significantly as it later proved, was carrying a 40-man army detachment in addition to her own crew. The French ship, recognising that she was outsized and out-gunned, went about and fled. A stern-chase ensued and it was not until noon that the range closed sufficiently for the first shots to be fired.

The action might have ended when HMS Ambuscade crossed Bayonnaise’s stern. This was the most vulnerable part of any sailing man-of-war, as shot crashing through the stern could run longitudinally along the entire inner decks, destroying all in their path. The manoeuvre, if successfully executed, was the deciding factor in many naval battles. It was at this moment of greatest risk that Bayonnaise’s luck kicked in. One of HMS Ambuscade’s 12-pounders burst, killing thirteen around it and destroying the vessel’s boats. In the ensuing confusion Bayonnaise headed south and a new stern chase developed. HMS Ambuscade, recovered from her setback, drew level in mid-afternoon – when, on this winter’s day, only a few hours of daylight still remained.

HMS Ambuscade was now sailing parallel to Bayonnaise and well placed to batter her to fragments. Desperate measures were called for if the latter was to survive. Richter, her captain, ordered sail to be backed and swung the helm hard over to port, smashing into HMS Ambuscade’s starboard flank close to the stern. Bayonnaise’s bowsprit crashed into the British frigate’s mizzen mast. It fell, and the tangle of cordage and wrecked spars locked both vessels together.

The extra men Bayonnaise carried – soldiers, accustomed to handling muskets – now proved decisive. A withering fire was directed on Ambuscade’s deck, so many of her officers being wounded that only a single lieutenant was left in command. Bayonnaise too was taking casualties – Captain Richter had an arm shot off – but the advantage now lay with her. French seamen and soldiers clambered across the bowsprit on to Ambuscade and a savage melee developed. Bayonnaise’s new-found luck continued, for a powder charge exploded on Ambuscade’s quarterdeck, inflicting yet more casualties. The fighting continued for another half-hour, but numbers told. When HMS Ambuscade’s colours were finally struck it was by her purser, the last Royal Navy officer still in action.
The butcher’s bill for this action was 15 killed and 39 wounded on HMS Ambuscade while Bayonnaise had 25 killed and 30 wounded. The captains of both vessels were among the wounded, and many other officers beside. It should be borne in mind that “wounded” often implied the necessity of amputation of limbs and that death by gangrene was a serious possibility thereafter. As was normal when a captain lost his ship, Captain Jenkins was later court-martialled, though he was exonerated, despite what many considered poor leadership and tactical manoeuvring.

Both vessels were to have active careers thereafter. HMS Ambuscade was taken into French service as Embuscade – wooden ships were almost infinitely repairable if they had not exploded, burned or been sunk. She was however recaptured in 1803 by no less a prestigious ship than HMS Victory, and she resumed her old name. She had an active and successful career thereafter until she was broken up in 1810. Bayonnaise’s luck ran out in 1803, the same year in which Ambuscade/Embuscade’s turned for the better. Run down by HMS Ardent off Cape Finnisterre, her crew burned her rather than surrender.
https://dawlishchronicles.com/2021/12/17/bayonnaise-and-hms-ambuscade-action-1798/

14 décembre 1798 : la corvette française la Bayonnaise capture à l'abordage la frégate anglaise HMS Ambuscade, pourtant supérieure en force, au large de l’île d’Aix.

Une célèbre peinture de Louis-Philippe Crépin (1772-1851) représentant ce combat est conservée au Musée national de la Marine, Paris.

Récit du combat disponible sur mon site Trois-Ponts! : https://troisponts.net/2012/09/30/prise-de-lambuscade-par-la-bayonnaise-le-14-decembre-1798/

21/11/2023

The Last Shanty.

09/11/2023

Lest we forget.

13/10/2023

Still 'our ship', even though we have not been aboard the 'Trinc' for some time now.

On this day in 1817, HMS Trincomalee was launched from the Bombay shipyard, India.

She was one of around thirty ships built by the East India Company for the Royal Navy, all made entirely of teak.

Before being stationed at Hartlepool, HMS Trincomalee travelled over 100,000 miles around the globe. Despite never seeing combat, HMS Trincomalee has a fascinating history. During her active service, she undertook duties that included policing, protection, and exploration.

HMS Trincomalee is now over 200 years old and protecting her history for future generations to enjoy is crucial for the National Museum of the Royal Navy. A team of shipwrights, riggers, conservators, and ship keepers all work tirelessly to keep Britain’s oldest floating warship afloat.

Image: A reconstruction of the launch of HMS Trincomalee by Harold Wyllie (1880-1973)

11/10/2023

Well done the 'Cloggies'! 'Qua Patet Orbis', 'As Far as the World Extends'.

11/10/2023

Some things get 'lost in translation' but you can get the gist of it.

11 oktober 1797, 13.30 uur ~ Zeeslag bij Kamperduin:
LINIESCHIP "DELFT" WEERT ZICH MOEDIG, MAAR DE OVERMACHT IS TE STERK .....

De commandant van 's-Lands Schip van Oorlog "Delft", Kapitein ter Zee Gerrit Verdooren vecht tezamen met zijn equipage (374 mannen en jongens) tegen de aanstormende Britse schepen.

Verscheidene Bataafsche schepen kampen met het probleem dat door de stormachtige wind de onderste geschutspoorten niet geopend kunnen worden omdat anders het Noordzee-water het schip in slaat. Hierdoor kunnen deze lichte linieschepen vaak slechts de helft van hun geschut gebruiken. Zo ook de "Delft", zij kan slechts 30 van haar 60 kanons afvuren en is daarmee een groot gedeelte van haar vuurkracht kwijt.

De Britten melden dat de eerste 'broadsides' van de 'Dutch' verschrikkelijk zijn en aan boord van hun schepen vele doden en gewonden veroorzaken. Maar de Bataven lijden ook enorm onder het Britse vuur.

De "Delft" krijgt het, als achterste schip van de Bataafsche 'Linie van Bataille' enorm te verduren als de Britse "H.M.S. Montagu" (74 kanons) en "H.M.S. Russel" (74) gezamenlijk en later "H.M.S. Powerfull" (74) haar bestoken. Vervolgens komt "H.M.S. Monmouth" (64) aanzeilen en bezegelt dit Britse schip het lot van 's-Lands Schip van Oorlog "Delft".
Vooral de Britse 'carronades' (zwaar vlakbaangeschut) richten veel schade aan; de Bataven hebben niet de beschikking over dit moderne geschut.

Als rond 13.30 uur de "Delft" op vele plaatsen is doorschoten, het water het schip in gutst, de bezaansroede is kapotgeschoten en de bezaansmast op vallen staat, de top van de fokkemast naar beneden is gekomen en bijna 110 van haar bemanningsleden gedood of gewond zijn, verzoekt een delegatie van de equipage aan Kapitein ter Zee Gerrit Verdooren om 'de vlag te strijken', zich over te geven aan de Britten.

Om 13.45 uur laat KtZ Gerrit Verdooren de Bataafsche Marinevlag strijken. Na een moedige strijd geeft 's-Lands Schip van Oorlog "Delft" zich gewonnen ......



Afbeelding: Zeeslag bij Kamperduin, v.l.n.r.: 's-Lands Schip van Oorlog "Alkmaar", 's-Lands Schip van Oorlog "Delft" en H.M.S. "Monmouth", geschilderd door A. Lourens, 1990 (Marinemuseum Den Helder).

~ * ~

Equipage De Delft beeldt o.m. de bemanning (scheepsvolk, mariniers en zee-officieren) uit van 's-Lands Schip van Oorlog "Delft" (1782-1797), die Hellevoetsluis als thuishaven had.

Equipage De Delft is (medio 2024 weer) gevestigd in het 'Bomvrije Logies' (anno 1857 gebouwd als buskruitmagazijn) in de Vesting Hellevoetsluis

29/09/2023

26/09/2023

Operation Jaywick: The WW2 raid on Singapore by 'cockles'.

In 1943, Operation Jaywick sent 14 men from Australia on a mission to sink Japanese ships in Singapore.

25/09/2023

This weekend saw the Historical Maritime Society at the Captain Cook Museum in Whitby.

11/09/2023

A grand weekend at the 'We Have Ways' festival, the canoe was in the water for us to have a paddle around, and the place we pitched the tent turned out to be a great spot, sheltered and it provided an 'entrance to the Burma jungle' for people to see the canoe. It was also where Chris set up the Vickers 'K' gun, which as it was the only firing machine gun on site, led to the 'Meercat' effect(what was that?) on the crowds when he fired a few short bursts. It was also what drew Al Murray to come and see us, and of course blaze off a few shots.

27/08/2023

WW2 Lanchester with press switch torch. Designed to aid boarding parties negotiate areas in darkness. Way ahead of the game.
Might have a go at making one for my Lanchy.

26/08/2023

The ill fated Franklin expedition.

It is the only known complete set of crew member photographs from the Franklin expedition in the Arctic.

27/07/2023

The Field Gun Run, a tradition being kept alive.

27/07/2023

A wonderful find being carried out at Fort Cumberland in a joint collaboration between Historic England and the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands. Of interest to Stephan Vroom and our Dutch friends at Equipage de Delft no doubt as well.

The wreck of the Rooswijk, which sunk in 1740, was discovered off the Kent coast in 2005.

29/05/2023

A 'Stringbag' over the Liver Buildings.

Fantastic image of the Swordfish flypast over Liverpool at the Battle of the Atlantic 80th Anniversary commemorations

29/04/2023

On this day, 221 years ago, the 'Marines' became the 'Royal' Marines. Known simply as the 'ROYALS', far and wide, with a globe of the world as their badge, and the moto of 'Per Mare, Per Terram', By Sea, By Land, they have been and still are as Admiral Jervis put it, "the country's sheet anchor"!
Well done the 'ROYALS'!

12/02/2023

The longest battle of the Second World War remembered.

From 26th – 28th May 2023, the city of Liverpool will be hosting an extraordinary three-day event to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic (BoA80).
BoA80 is about celebrating and commemorating the bravery and resilience of the ordinary – yet extraordinary – men and women from across the UK, whose courage and commitment won the most decisive and long-fought battle of the Second World War.

We at Western Approaches HQ are proud partners with the Battle of the Atlantic Memorial. We are excited to attend these events to pay tribute to the many inspirational men and women that gave up their today, so that we could have a tomorrow.

Get these in your diary, and be a part of it with us.

More updated info on specific timings will be added on this web page: https://battleoftheatlantic.org/boam-events/

12/02/2023

For those with 'bang sticks' who fancy a punt!

Competition time
Raffle £1 a go to be in with a chance of winning 20 gun flints of any size, worth between £30-£40
To enter, message me the number you want and for my PayPal details.
The draw will take place on Sunday 19th February 2023.
USA followers are welcome to enter, if happy to cover shipping. But still a great deal 👌
1. Brandon Berke
2. Hugh Morris
3. Jim Riley
4. Tod Booth
5. Gareth Hunt
6. Hugh Morris
7.
8.
9.
10. Gareth Hunt
11.
12.
13. Chuck Tiller
14.
15. Gareth Hunt
16. Tod Booth
17.
18.
19.
20. Gareth Hunt
21. Hugh Morris
22.
23. Cliff Lee
24. Brandon Berke
25. Gareth Hunt
26.
27. Jim Riley
28.
29.
30. Tod Booth
31. Hugh Morris
32. Kate Nicholson
33. Keith Bartlett
34. Jim Riley
35.
36.
37. Sussexmuzzeloader
38.
39.
40. Brandon Berke
41. Kate Nicholson
42. Hugh Morris
43. Craig Douglas
44. Tod Booth
45.
46.
47.
48. Tod Booth
49.
50.

25/01/2023

To all our friends 'down-under', have a Happy Australia Day.
Captain Arthur Phillip had been commissioned by the British government of the day to organise, supply and command a fleet to bring 1,400 people to establish a new British colony on the other side of the world.
Phillip was to be the governor of the settlement, which was made up of convicted criminals, their Marine minders and overseeing naval officers, with some family members.
Even though the entire fleet, having travelled the last leg across the Indian Ocean in two separate flotillas, had assembled by January 20, 1788, in Botany Bay, it was its relocation to the more suitable Port Jackson on January 26 that has always been commemorated.