The Union Jack on the Jack-Staff of HMS M. 33, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, Portsmouth, 29/08/16.

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camouflage., dazzle camouflage, Flag Institute, flags, HMS M33, M33, Portsmouth, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, Royal Navy, Union Flag

To quote from a pdf published on-line by the Flag Institute:

“Controversy persists about whether the British national flag should be called “the Union Flag” or “the Union Jack”. Among those who are informed about the matter, it is generally accepted that either name may be used. However, some people are convinced that “Union Flag” is the only correct term and that “Union Jack” should be used only when the flag is flown from the jack-staff in the bows of a Royal Naval vessel or, at least when it refers to the use of the flag by the Royal Navy. The general public almost universally uses the term “Union Jack”. Today some people claim to perceive that this usage is being eroded by persons who deliberately adopt an unjustified pedantry. It must be acknowledged, however, that the origins and relationships of the names “Union Flag” and “Union Jack” are historically far from clear“.

I suppose, as I have previously refereed to Union Flags hanging from buildings I have photographed on my travels, I should refer to this as a Union Jack, especially as it is being flown from a “jack-staff in the bows of a Royal Naval vessel” – but I could be wrong.  

The M. 33 has made an appearance on the Antic Roadshow, back in 2014, so if you would like to see what it looked like then or learn a bit more about its history follow this link.  

Photo Archive: HMS Atherstone, Portsmouth, c.2005.

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Arabian Gulf, dockyard, Harbour, HM Forces, HMS Atherstone, HMS Victory, mine, mine countermeasures, Minehunter, Persian Gulf, Portsmouth, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, Royal Navy, Ships, The Gulf, warship

The M38 in home waters. 

A popular internet search engine and the Royal Navy’s own website inform me that M38 is associated with HMS Atherstone, “one of eight Hunt Class mine countermeasures ships based in Portsmouth“, currently on deployment in the Persian Gulf (refereed to as the Arabian Gulf by some). This photograph was one of a series taken on one of Portsmouth Historic Dockyard’s harbour tours, but this one is the best. As well as the masts of Nelson’s flagship, HMS Victory, being visible on the left in the Historic Dockyard you can also see the semaphore tower, on top the headquarters of Naval Base Commander and the Queen’s Harbour Master, within the working Naval Base.

Photo Archive: Tron, Portsmouth, c.2013

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films, movies, neon, Portsmouth, sci-fi, Science fiction, Street Art, Tron, Tron: Legacy

Photo Archive: Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Southsea Common, c.2005.

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Coast, duffle coats, Portsmouth, Royal Navy, sculpture, sea boots, Second World War, Southsea Common

Portsmouth Naval Memorial.

Seeing the great obelisk, commemorating those members of the Royal Navy who lost their lives in the First World War, on the BBC news this morning, as part of the D-Day commemorations, reminded me of this set of photographs I took back in 2005, on my first visit to Portsmouth. They show the statues that punctuate the memorial plaques that commemorate those member of the Royal Navy who died during the Second World War (these plaques are on a memorial wall, which runs below the obelisk on the landward side of the memorial site). The photographs don’t show it, but it was a very windy afternoon [too windy for a walk really, but you have to make the most of what weather you are given when travelling around the UK] and I remember thinking how appropriately dressed the men on the memorial were, in their duffle coats and sea boots. Look out for details on the duffle coats, especially the toggles and loops, and the waves crashing around the sea boots; the only thing that hints at the cruelty of the sea on the otherwise serene monument.

More information about the memorial can be found here: http://www.portsmouth-guide.co.uk/local_f/warmem.htm

Photo Archive: Sunshine in Portsmouth & Southsea, August 2013.

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Beach, Coast, Hampshire, Portsmouth

If I had visited Portsmouth Museum before my stroll between the Round Tower and the Square Tower, I would have thought the railway poster depicting a mother and child soaking up the sun on the beach at “Porstmouth and Southsea” was the most outrageous exaggeration in advertising history. The type, more than anything, implies that you are more likely to find sunbathers in Southsea rather than Portsmouth, but my walk didn’t take in Southsea, so I can safely say that 100% of the sun worshippers I spotted that day were in Portsmouth. I had walked from the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, through the Gunwharf Quay, passed the Isle of Wight car ferry terminal and navigated my way to Tower Alley and the Round Tower, part of Portsmouth’s historic defences. Great views of the harbour entrance were to be expected, a fortification without great views of the harbour would be worse than useless, but I didn’t expect to see a beach!

The view from the city wall.

As you can see, it is small, but perfectly formed. I made a point of walking along the beach, despite being rather overdressed (I must remember to bring my swimming shorts next time; just in case it happens to be a similarly beautiful day). It is almost like the walls and towers are keeping out all the distractions of the city and the commercial aspects of the real seaside, whilst allowing people in to enjoy the Sun; that burning orb that gives everything on this planet life [I have a feeling that there are things that live in the darkest, deepest, oceans and darkest, deepest, caves, but “almost everything” sounds a lot less poetic].

The beach viewed from the Square Tower.

If you like long walks along the shore you might want to consider going else where, but if you’re in Portsmouth and you don’t fancy going as far as Southsea to get sand in your shoes, head for the Round Tower. Beach is in what I think is referred to as “Old Portsmouth”, so if you’ve had enough of historic ships or shopping head round the harbour as I did (preferably on a sunny Summers day) to this unique corner of England.

Photo Archive: The Round Tower, Portsmouth, August 2013.

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British History, Coast, Hampshire, Military History, Portsmouth, Round Tower, Square Tower

The Round Tower.

According to the Portsmouth Museums website (http://www.portsmouthmuseums.co.uk/museum-service/The-Round-Tower) the foundations of the Round Tower date from 1418, Queen Elizabeth I ordered it rebuilt with more cannons in mind and it was heightened during the Napoleonic War. In the latter years of its defensive career it formed part of the Point Battery and Barrack, developed in the 1850’s, and the extensive use of red brick around the Tower gives the area an overwhelmingly Victorian feel, despite the Towers much older pedigree.

Inside the fortifications built around the Round Tower.

Why is this important? It’s important because the spot, Tower or no Tower, affords excellent views of the harbour. Over the years the Tower has been rebuilt and adapted to allow for even greater view of harbour until the Coastal Artillery was disbanded in the 1960’s. Now it is owned by the Council and you stand on top of it, taking in the view, all year round. I noticed, whilst I was up there, that the Isle of Wight ferries pass very close to the Tower and the fortification also overlooks a small beach, which runs from the base of the Round Tower and its nearest neighbour the Square Tower.

The Portsmouth Guide (http://www.portsmouth-guide.co.uk/local/sqrntwr.htm) has more more facts about the Round Tower and its partner the Square Tower and I have already mentioned the link to the Portsmouth Museums Portal.

 

The view from the top of the Round Tower looking towards the Square Tower.

A ferry viewed from the Round Tower.

The beach viewed from the Square Tower.

Photo Archive: H.M.S M33 Monitor, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, 2005 and 2013.

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camouflage., dazzle camouflage, First World War, Gallipoli, Hampshire County Council, Historic Dockyard, M33, Portsmouth, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, Royal Navy, Russia Civil War

On my first visit to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, a must for anyone on a coach holiday to the Hampshire coast, I took the time to take the photograph above and wonder, for a moment, what brought this little ship to a dry dock, overshadowed by the Royal Navy’s largest ships, past and present. Then it was off to queue up for a tour of Nelson’s famous and instantly recognisable flagship, H.M.S Victory. Then I forgot about the little ship (and this photograph; until last week).

Last year I made the journey from Southampton to Portsmouth, by train this time, to visit the Historic Dockyard again, to see the new museum built around the remains of the Mary Rose. On a strict timetable (I think I had to present myself at the Mary Rose Museum at 11 o’clock) I marched from the dockyard entrance to H.M.S Victory, looking for something to occupy my mind and the 15 minutes remaining on the clock before I had to join the queue. Then I noticed the little ship; resplendent in its new, dazzling, paint work! The notion of dazzle camouflage schemes were not new to me, but I had never see them applied so boldly and on an object in front of my very eyes. The idea is, in short, that when your German Imperial Navy U-boat Commander looks at the H.M.S M33 through his periscope he is dazzled by the bold, black and white pattern and subsequently doesn’t know where to aim his torpedoes, because he can’t tell one end of the ship from the other.

 

As you can see, this was a very quiet corner of the Historic Dockyard and I spent some time strolling around the M33 and admiring it’s obviously very new paint work. I learnt from a leaflet that I picked up later (that I have subsequently filed away somewhere so “safe” I cannot find it) that the warship is own by Hampshire County Council and that they have further restoration plays for it. I also learnt that this “little ship”, as I refereed to it initially, had seen action at Gallipoli in 1915 during the First World War and had supported White Russian and Interventionist British forces during the Russian Civil War in 1919. Perhaps my next visit to Portsmouth will be especially to see the newly opened H.M.S M33 Monitor; next year perhaps, to coincide with the anniversary of the Gallipoli campaign. We’ll have to wait and see.

Hampshire County Council’s webpage for the M33: http://www3.hants.gov.uk/m33.htm

Here is a very link to a BBC article by Dr. Sam Willis about dazzle camouflage: http://www.bbc.co.uk/guides/zty8tfr