The Edgar Class of Large Cruisers consisted of HMS Edgar, HMS Crescent, Endymion, Gibraltar, Grafton, Hawke, Royal Arthur, St George and HMS Theseus.  Built between 1890 and 1892.  These large Cruisers. Saw service in World war as converted depot ships for destroyers and Submarines.  With One loss. HMS Hawke being Torpedoed and sunk by U- 9 on the 15th October 1914. with the loss of 524 men. (only 70 survivors.)

HMS Crescent, 1910.

A large image size 10" x 7" approx, is available.  Reproduced from the original negative / photo under license from MPL, the copyright holder.  A signed numbered certificate is supplied. Price £25.   Order photograph here   Order Code  XMP910

HMS Crescent

Captain H.R.H. The Duke of York, Commanding the Crescent circa 1898.

A reproduction of this original photo / photo-postcard size 10" x 7" approx available.  Order photograph here  © Walker Archive. Order Code  PHC749

HMS Crescent : Forecastle

Halifax, Canada, 1900.

Photo taken by a crew member of HMS Quail, which was 'hulked in' at Halifax for one month.  HMS Quail arrived at Charlottetown in July / August 1900 with HMS Crescent and HMS Tribune.  Presumably this photo is from that cruise, and the two large ships visible here are HMS Crescent (right, flying flag) and HMS Tribune.

HMS Edgar, 1893.

A large image size 10" x 7" approx, is available.  Reproduced from the original negative / photo under license from MPL, the copyright holder.  A signed numbered certificate is supplied. Price £25.   Order photograph here   Order Code  XMP911

HMS Edgar, 1915.

A large image size 10" x 7" approx, is available.  Reproduced from the original negative / photo under license from MPL, the copyright holder.  A signed numbered certificate is supplied. Price £25.   Order photograph here   Order Code  XMP912

HMS Edgar c.1912 

HMS Edgar. 

HMS Endymion, 1915.

A large image size 10" x 7" approx, is available.  Reproduced from the original negative / photo under license from MPL, the copyright holder.  A signed numbered certificate is supplied. Price £25.   Order photograph here   Order Code  XMP913

HMS Endymion pictured pre 1896.

HMS Endymion, in dock, 1915.

A large image size 10" x 7" approx, is available.  Reproduced from the original negative / photo under license from MPL, the copyright holder.  A signed numbered certificate is supplied. Price £25.   Order photograph here   Order Code  XMP914

HMS Endymion, in dock, 1915.

A large image size 10" x 7" approx, is available.  Reproduced from the original negative / photo under license from MPL, the copyright holder.  A signed numbered certificate is supplied. Price £25.   Order photograph here   Order Code  XMP915

HMS Endymion

HMS Endymion pictured c.1908. 

HMS Grafton.

HMS Royal Arthur, 1893.

A large image size 10" x 7" approx, is available.  Reproduced from the original negative / photo under license from MPL, the copyright holder.  A signed numbered certificate is supplied. Price £25.   Order photograph here   Order Code  XMP919

HMS Royal Arthur - Flagship on the Pacific Station pictured pre 1896

A reproduction of this original photo / photo-postcard size 10" x 7" approx available.  Order photograph here  © Walker Archive. Order Code  PHC077

HMS Royal Arthur.

Crew of HMS Royal Arthur.

Royal Visitors on Board the Royal Arthur. (1896)

Our illustration commemorates the very interesting send off which was given to the Royal Arthur on her being first commissioned at Portsmouth in 1893, as flagship of the Pacific Station.  The Prince of Wales was present, out of compliment to Rear Admiral Stephenson, one of the Prince's former Equerries, and with him attended the Duke of Connaught after whom the Royal Arthur is named, and the veteran Admiral of the Fleet Sir Harry Keppel.

The Royal Arthur was a steel copper sheathed first class protected cruiser of the Naval Defence Act Programme and was completed for sea 1891. She was built at Portsmouth Dockyard, and engined by Messrs. Maudsley, Son & Field. She carried one 22 ton gun and twelve 6 ins guns with twelve 6 pounder guns and five 3 pounder quick-firers. In 1896 when this photograph was taken she was commanded by Rear-Admiral H F Stephenson.

Royal Arthur was a flagship in the 4th Cruiser Squadron and went into reserve at Portsmouth. She then went into the 4th Cruiser Squadron of the Home Fleet from 1909-1912 and was commissioned for Queenstown Training Squadron in 1913. At the outbreak of WWI she was in the 10th Cruiser Squadron but was reduced to a guardship at Scapa Flow in February 1915 and then became a depot ship for submarines. She operated with the 12th Submarine Flotilla in 1918 and the 1st Flotilla in 1919. She was sold and broken up in 1921.

HMS St George, 1906.

A large image size 10" x 7" approx, is available.  Reproduced from the original negative / photo under license from MPL, the copyright holder.  A signed numbered certificate is supplied. Price £25.   Order photograph here   Order Code  XMP920

Crewmen on HMS St George operating the search light, pictured c.1904. 

HMS St George - Flagship on the Cape of Good Hope Station.

The St George was a steel copper sheathed first class cruiser of the Naval Defence Act Programme and was launched in 1892. She was built by contract at the yard of Messrs Earle at Hull and engined by Messrs Maudsley & Co. She was commissioned at Portsmouth in October 1894 as the flagship of the Commander in Chief on the Cape of Good Hope and West Africa Stations. She then carried the flag of Rear Admiral Harry H Rawson C.B.

Up to May 1906 HMS St George served as Boys Training Ship in 4th Cruiser Squadron. But after May she went into reserve at Devonport. In 1909 she was converted to a destroyer depot Ship at Chatham. and re commissioned as depot ship for the 3rd destroyer squadron at the Nore in March 1910. In June 1910 she suffered some damage after grounding off Sheerness. Served with 6th destroyer Flotilla 1912 - 1913 and then 9th Destroyer Flotilla 1913 - 1914. During the early months of world war one served as part of the Humber Patrol. In 1917 was converted to support submarines and went to the Aegean in 1918 - 1919 with the 2nd Submarine Flotilla.  Paid off in 1920 and scrapped June 1920.

Captain E S Poe and the officers of the St George when she was part of the Training Squadron c.1900.

HMS St George.

A reproduction of this original photo / photo-postcard size 10" x 7" approx available.  Order photograph here  © Walker Archive. Order Code  PHC623

One of the Edgar Class Cruisers, c.1900.

Naval Historians, Crew & Family Noticeboard

Edgar Class cruiser, Notice Board for naval enthusiasts and ex Crew families of Edgar Class cruisers. This website is not part of any governmental body or official websites of Edgar Class cruisers.

HMS CRESCENT... FREDERICK GEORGE DOVE... Could anyone help me please. I am trying to research the ships and station that my grandfather served upon during the period 10th June 1910 - 11th February 1922. He served on the following ships: Europa (March - April 1912), Doris/Monmouth (1912-1914), Talbot (Jan 1914), Argyle (1914-1915), Conqueror (1915-1919), Lord Nelson (1919), Pembroke/Egremont (1919-1920) and Crescent (1920-1922). Any information regarding these ships will be gratefully accepted. contact Joe Smitheringale at joseph@smitheringale5224.freeserve.co.uk 

The Flagship Crescent at Bar Harbour 1900 by Charles Dixon.

Original Chromolithograph Paper size 14 inches x 10 inches (36cm x 25cm). Price £65.00