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www. navynews. co. uk
NAVY NEWS, DECEMBER 2003
FIGUREHEADS
HMS NYMPHE A BEAUTIFUL classical half-length female figurehead standing well over 7ft high, she was carved to represent a female character from Greek mythology - a water spirit in flowing gown with carved shell motifs on her bodice. Relatively large and well-carved for a vessel of the size for which she was commissioned, this item shows that as late as the 1880s the Naval carvers attached to Portsmouth Dockyard could still produce wonderful and imaginative decoration. HMS Nymphe was originally built as a composite screw sloop, schooner-rigged with three masts, of 1, 140 tons and armed with eight 5in guns. Launched at Portsmouth on May 1, 1888, the fourth vessel of the name, she had the distinction of being one of the last sloops built for the Royal Navy with composite hulls, and the first with twin screws. With a top speed of 14 knots, she was used for some years on colonial service and made a number of voyages to the West Indies. In 1906 she became a base ship under the new name Wildfire. Ten years later she had become Gannet and in 1917 was was again re-named Pembroke, serving as base ship and diving tender at Sheerness and then Chatham before being sold for scrap in 1920 to T. W. Wards of Milford Haven. Her figurehead had been removed sometime during the early 1900s and for many years was on display at the RN Depot at Sheerness, Kent. Before World War II she was moved over to Chatham as part of HMS Pembroke. When this establishment was redeveloped she was moved back into the Dockyard and then given for a time to HMS Wildfire, the RNR unit in Gillingham. When Wildfire closed in 1994, Nymphe was presented to Gillingham Borough Council. Finally, after full restoration by the Conservation Department of Chatham Historic Dockyard, she was moved to her present location inside the St George's Centre, Chatham.
Coventry cross collapsed under Falklands gales SAILORS have lovingly restored a memorial to the dead of HMS Coventry which was beaten down by the elements in the Falklands. Crew of frigate HMS Lancaster, patrol ship HMS Leeds Castle and engineering staff in the islands found the monument to the Type 42 destroyer on remote Pebble Island had collapsed.
Coventry fell victim to three bombs on Argentine Independence Day, May 25, during the 1982 conflict. She heeled over and sank in 20 minutes, taking 19 men with her. Twenty-one years later former Coventry midshipman Paul Chivers returned to the site of the sinking this time as Commanding Officer of HMS Lancaster. He and members of his ship's company laid a wreath over the spot before visiting Pebble Island to continue paying their respects. Lancaster's supply officer Lt Cdr John Pheasant said a recce party had found the memorial cross to Coventry collapsed and the badge presentation boxes in a poor state after a 21-year battering from the Falklands weather. But Naval engineers, based in the Islands, repaired the cross while Lancaster's crew tackled the cairn at the base of the monument, ahead of a simple, moving ceremony led by the frigate's chaplain, the Rev Roland Wort. "Now in place, the memorial is as awe-inspiring as ever and is ready to withstand a good few Pebble Island winters again, " said THE QUEEN is to formally er from sister HMS Ark Royal Lt Cdr Pheasant. welcome Falklands veteran since coming out of refit in Rosyth CPO(MEA) 'Gaz' Harding carrier HMS Invincible hack earlier this year. added: "Having visited the Ten former commanding offiinto the bosom of the Fleet this Falklands several times it feels cers of the ship, First Sea Lord month. great to have been able to give Admiral Sir Alan West, families Her Majesty launched the ship something worthwhile back to the and affiliated organisations have in her Silver Jubilee year of 1977 islands. " all been invited to the ceremony. and was guest of honour when HMS Lancaster also visited the "The rededication ceremony Invincible was commissioned and site of the wreck of HMS marks another significant mileAntelope in San Carlos Water, then rccommissioned in 1980 and stone in the life of this famous 1989. where she was sunk in the ship, " said Invisible's present CO, Falklands War, for a special cereShe pays her first visit to the RN Capt Trevor Soar. mony (see page 19). in Portsmouth since last year'sTri-Service her Golden "It will be acelebration truly great of honour The Type 23 frigate left the for us to host Her Majesty and I Falklands tor good on this deployJubilee for the carrier's rcdcdicaknow that the ship's company will ment on November 4, beginning tion on December 12. her return journey to Portsmouth be looking forward to the event Invincible has taken over as the via Rio dc Janeiro and Fortaleza. and its associated celebrations. " nation's flagship and on call carrier
Ton up for London RNR PRINCE Michael of Kent, Honorary Commodore RNR, presents the Volunteer Reserve Service Medal and Clasp to the Commanding Officer HMS President, Cdr Claire Hughes. The ceremony was part of the London Division RNR's 100th birthday celebrations at the Fishmonger's Hall its original recruiting hall. Picture: CPOA(PHOT) Dave Coombs
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