Sailors & Mermaids

cynicalcunt:

Sailors, circa 1956. The photo was taken by my grandad and the guy on the end marked with ‘Bighead’ was my nan’s ex-boyfriend. This has been in a family album for years and none of us had noticed the writing.

historicalfirearms:

Steam & Sail

In this photograph taken of Portsmouth Harbour in the 1890s we can see several grand old First Rate Men of War.  The two first rates (ships of 100 guns or more) are the famous HMS Victory (right), which at the time would have been over 130 years old and HMS Duke of Wellington (left) which in its prime was home to over 130 guns.

While Victory & Wellington look much alike they in fact of very different generations, the Victory was commissioned in 1765 and had an active service life of some 80 years.  While the Duke of Wellington was commissioned in 1852 and while she retained the masts and rigging akin to Victory she also had a 780hp steam boiler which powered a screw propeller.  However, even though she boasted a mighty battery of guns and a new steam engine she was relegated to harbour duties after less than 10 years service.  Such was the speed with which naval technology progressed.  For many years Victory & Duke of Wellington shared the harbour of Portsmouth serving as training ships.  The Duke of Wellington was sold and broken up in 1904.

Behind the Men of War in the distance can be seen numerous hulks of other older Men of War being used as store, maintenance or training ships and in amongst the forest of masts you can clearly make out numerous steam funnels of newer ships.  In the foreground a steam launch and its crew pose for the camera. 

Image Source

” Golden Mermaid — 1732 “  …  Stern carvings on Prince Frederick’s Barge at National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, UK  …  Photographer:  Chiswick Chap

(Source: commons.wikimedia.org)

” Navy Week — 1938 “

” Abandoned Lighthouse “  … Talacre Beach, Wales, UK

(Source: wakeuplookup)

” Sunday At Sea “  ….  Aboard a British Man-of-War Ship [1889] …. Illustration from the “Illustrated London News”

(Source: uk.ebid.net)

” The Anchor Inn — Cockwood “  …..  British Pub Sign in Devon, UK

mudwerks:

H.M.S. GANGES (by unexpectedtales)

” Lesson In Boat Sailing “  …..  Postcard [?] ….  Royal Navy Cadets with Sailing Instructor

(Source: pondyachtantiques.co.uk)

adventures-of-the-blackgang:

found photo: sent home to England, probably 1942-3

On the back, in pencil, it says “To the best Mother in the world xxxx” and then adds, somewhat superfluously, “that’s me on the left”

rain-storms:

New Brighton Lighthouse by PM~Photography.. on Flickr.

” Stranded Sailor With Mermaid “  …  MAD Magazine Cover [UK], November 1987 by Artist:  Harry North

joshuafountain:

Merseyside Boy Bluejackets 1910

adventures-of-the-blackgang:

Anchor-Donaldson: Glasgow To Canada Via Londonderry

(2385 x 3775)

Donaldson Line; United Kingdom

Formed in 1916, Anchor-Donaldson Line was a joint operation between Anchor Line and Donaldson Line. Renamed Donaldson Atlantic Line in the mid-1930s. Resumed operation as Donaldson Line after WW2.