HMS Victory Campaign

© RN Communications Branch Museum/Library

  Did you know that she had a 175 day campaign 86 years after Trafalgar to win the hearts and minds of the public and that was on terra firma, miles from the open sea?

  The root of this story is courtesy of the National Maritime Museum Greenwich and the author Pieter van der Merwe who own the full copyright to the story.

  I bring to the ring a story which I'll wager is very little known about but worthy of telling especially on a naval web site.

  Many of you I am sure will known of the GREAT EXHIBITION held in London's Hyde Park at the Crystal Palace for the six months of summer/early autumn in 1851, famous the world over and equally because of the hands-on involvement of Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria. It was a show piece for the UK, the lead country in the 19th century industrial revolution, which invited the rest of the world to show-off their contributions designed to kick-start a "new world" ! It was followed with other much smaller exhibitions and fares all designed "to sell Great Britain to the rest of the world". As we know, it cemented our lead position and although we are tiny as a land mass, we became the most important country on the planet. At this time period we have the largest and most potent navy ever witnessed, spread on all seas and oceans across the globe.

  Other areas of London were used for exhibitions chiefly the great 'Festival of Britain' on the south bank of the Thames directly opposite the great City of London in 1951, another great fare attracting millions of visitors, many from across the world. It too had a long five month run in the summer months.

  Apart from venues like Earls Court and Olympia which had regular exhibitions and fares, chiefly events like the International Motor Show, later moved to Birmingham to the NEC [National Exhibition Centre] and the much loved Royal Tournament held at Earls Court where the naval commands vied with one another Chatham, Portsmouth, Devonport and HMS Daedalus [Fleet Air Arm] pitting their strength and skill manhandling heavy and cumbersome field gun pieces over an assault course as would likely be encountered over open rugged terrain: finally it was disbanded much to everybody's dismay. There was one other exhibition venue used for a most enjoyable visit. That was the Chelsea Hospital and its huge grounds, home to Chelsea Pensioners and to the famous annual Chelsea Flower Show.

  I give way now to Pieter van der Merwe to tell his story. Just a couple of pointers first.

  The mock-up of HMS Victory is a full scale complete hull with 12 foot stub masts representing its three main masts. It follows convention set in 1922 namely entry is on the port side midships and exit starboard side midships, so a sight to behold and a creation to blow one's mind. Erected on site and dismantled likewise ready to be sold off and transported to distant parts of the Isle of Man. It was to be another 31 years before Victory was domiciled in No2 dry dock Portsmouth Dockyard, and she's still there in 2021! Finally there is a mention of a man called F.H. Miller and you'll met him again on this site under a NAVAL RUM story.

  Click on the link below and enjoy, and next time you go to the Chelsea Flower Show with car parking opposite in Battersea Park be in sheer wonderment of the size and scope of this naval exhibition which in truth could have been built using the vast expanse of Portsmouth/Southsea generous Common. However the organisers clearly wanted the clout of attendance which can only occur in the Capital.

HMS Victory - Great Exhibition

and also another story penned by F.H. Miller Bluejacket Food