Royal Navy cruiser HMS Blake was built
at Chatham Dockyard and launched in 1889. HMS Blake served one commission
as flagship at the America and West Indies Station during 1895 and in
December of 1895 was commissioned into the Channel Squadron commanded by
Captain Bromley. Converted to a destroyer depot ship in August
1907 after being struck of the navy list in 1906. Served as the depot ship
for the 2nd destroyer flotilla of the Grand Fleet and then to the 11th
Destroyer flotilla. after the war was scrapped on the 9th June 1922.
Displacement: 9,000 tons.
I.H.P: 20,000 Length: 375 feet. Beam:
65ft. Maximum draught: 25 ft 9ins. Armament: two
22 ton guns, protected by steel shields. Speed: 22 knots.
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HMS
Blake - Name History |
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The third “Blake” is a 12-gun twin screw
cruiser, launched at Chatham in 1889.
She is of 1900 tons, 20,000 horsepower, and 22 knots speed.
Her length, beam, and draught were 375ft, 65ft, and 25ft. In 1889 the “Blake” commanded by Captain Alfred Leigh Winsloe,
proceeded to Sierra Leone, and assumed the duties of senior naval
officer during the suppression of the Sierra Leone Rebellion.
Six separate columns of troops crushed the rising, and the navy
had a little share in the operations.
But had the Navy not been ready at hand, and extremely active at
the beginning of the disorders, terrible atrocities might have resulted. The
“Blake” was eventually converted into a seagoing depot for
torpedo-boat destroyers. |
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HMS Blake pictured c.1920.
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reproduction of this original photo / photo-postcard size 10" x
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HMS Blake, June 1897 |
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HMS Blake, 1912.
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large image size 10" x 7" approx, is available. Reproduced
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HMS Blake, 1892.
A
large image size 10" x 7" approx, is available. Reproduced
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Original
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HMS Blake, 1892.
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
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Original
republished © MPL Photograph (Postcard Size). Price £5 Click here
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HMS Blake of the Channel Squadron
The Blake was a steel first class cruiser of the early
Hamilton Programme, and was launched in 1889. She was built at Chatham
Dockyard, and engined by Messrs Maudsley & Co. The Blake was at one
time in the commission as the flagship of the North America and West
Indies Squadron. She hoisted the pennant in December 1895 for service in
the Channel Squadron. She was commanded by Captain Arthur C B Bromley.
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The Captain and Officers of HM First-Class Cruiser HMS Blake
The first-class cruiser Blake returned to England in 1895 after
serving one commission as flagship on the North America and West Indies
Station. On the 17th December 1895, she was commissioned for service with
the Channel Squadron by Captain Arthur C B Bromley (the officer wearing
four rings of "distinction lace" on his sleeve, and shown in the
centre of the foreground), who, with officers and men turned over into the
Blake from the first-class cruiser Endymion.
The senior officer of the Blake, under Captain Bromley, is Commander
Edward F Inglefield - a member of a famous old naval family. |
HM Cruiser Blake Preparing for Sea
In these days of mast less ships of war it is not often that one seas
Jack aloft, except to man the Fighting Tops or when ordered on some
special duty, such as we see some of the company of the cruiser Blake
engaged on in 1896. The men seen on their way aloft and on the yards of
the Blake's mizzen mast, have to fix down the "steaming covers"
of canvas to protect the paintwork aloft from the steam and smoke from the
funnels as soon as the ship gets under way. A terrible mishap befell a blue jacket
of the Revenge at Queenstown, who fell to the deck while
putting on covers on the maintop sail yard, and was killed. |
First Class Petty Officer Moore of the Blake
First-class Petty Officer Moore of the cruiser Blake
had served in the Royal navy for 21 years at the time of this photo in
1896.and had served in all parts of the globe in token
of which he wears the Good Conduct Medal and three Good Conduct Badges, he
also wears the Egyptian War Medal, with a Clasp for the battle of El Teb,
as well as the Khedive's Bronze Star. The crossed anchors with the crown
above on his left arm are the distinctive badges of his rating.
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The Company of the Blake
Upwards of 550 officers and men of all ranks and
ratings comprised the company of the big first-class cruiser Blake, which
served in the Channel Squadron during 1896. Here we see the greater number
of the ship's complement assembled to face the camera on the forecastle; a
notable assemblage and one that could only have been seen around 1896. It
is a curious fact that, before the Russian War of 1854-55, our sailors had
no regulation uniform, and might practically throughout the Navy wear any
sort, or cut of seafaring dress that they could choose or could most
conveniently procure.
Original Photographic image from
quality magazine published in 1896 image size 10" x 8" approx ,
plus title and specifications. price £20 plus £3 post for UK £10 overseas, recorded airmail
order number ANV1181 order
photograph here |
The Petty Officers of the Blake
The Petty Officers of the Royal Navy are as a body rated immediately
below the warrant officers, the boatswains and gunners. Petty Officers are
promoted from the rating of leading seamen, good conduct, intelligence and
smartness being the main qualifications. They take rank as Chief, First,
and Second class Petty Officers. Each of the departments of the combatant
and civil branches of the naval service has its staff of Petty Officers,
who are known by the distinctive departmental badges worn on their
uniform. The photograph shows the Petty Officers of the first-class
cruiser Blake, of the Channel Squadron in 1896. |
Teaching Midshipmen to "Shoot the Sun"
A class of Midshipmen and cadets on board the Blake having the
sextant and its working parts explained to them by the Naval Instructor of
the ship. The Midshipmen who hold senior rank of the two are denoted by
the historic "white patch" on their collars, the Naval
Cadets wearing for their badge a button with a worked buttonhole. The
sextant was an indispensable instrument at sea in 1896 and was used daily
at noon to determine the exact latitude. Every officer on duty from the
Captain to the Midshipmen attends on the quarterdeck Sextant in hand, to
take part in the ceremonial of "shooting the sun". |
Armourers of the Blake at Work on a 6 in Quick-Firer 1896
The duties of armourers on board ship in the 1890's
concerned everything connected with keeping in efficient working order the
arms, small and great of all kind. The armourers were classed under the
general designation of artificers, and, with the torpedo artificers,
belonged to the gunner's staff, as the special department in charge of
that warrant officer. They examined and lubricated all gun fittings and
mechanisms every Monday morning as a matter of routine, and at all other
times that were necessary; executed all the repairs within their
scope; and, with the members of the Carpenter's crew, saw to the testing
once a week and repairing of the fire engines and extincteur on board and
the hoses. They were generally excused the inspection of arms, divisional
drills, and quarters for cleaning guns and arms. The photograph shows the
armourers of the Blake at work on one of the cruisers 6-in 100 pdr
quick-firing guns.
Original Photo
page image from
quality magazine published in 1896 image size 10" x 8" approx ,
plus title and specifications. price £20 plus £3 post for UK £10 overseas, recorded airmail
order number AN2/27 order photo page here |
Hoisting out the Sailing Pinnace on board HMS Blake |
"Spell Oh!" After Dinner on Board HMS Blake. 1896 |
In the Carpenters Workshop, HMS Blake 1896
Original Page Photo image from
quality magazine published in 1896 image size 5" x 8" approx ,
plus title and specifications. price £15 plus £3 post for UK £10 overseas, recorded airmail
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The Diver and His Apparatus, HMS Blake 1896
Original Page Photo image from
quality magazine published in 1896 image size 5" x 8" approx ,
plus title and specifications. price £15 plus £3 post for UK £10 overseas, recorded airmail
order number ANV2/126b order photopage here |
| These two departments on
board ship stand in marked contrast: -one having to do, practically, with
everything within the ship; the other dealing with everything without.
Furthermore, the carpenter and his mates and staff have formed an
essential part of a ship's company from the oldest days of the royal navy
, while the diving establishment dates its introduction from the late 19th
century. Classes of instruction for divers were regularly formed in
connection with each of the Naval Gunnery schools, and the men had to go
through a very complete course of training before being passed out and
qualified to serve in the Fleet. On the other hand, the carpenters staff
on board ship comprised artificers capable of executing repairs of every
kind, in metal or wood. |
Three Officers of HMS Blake
Officers are Captain Arthur C B Bromley who commanded the
first-class cruiser Blake in 1896, together with the previous commander of
the ship and the first lieutenant Cecil E E Carey, who was also borne on
the Blake for Torpedo duties. Their ranks are denoted by the various rings
of distinction lace. |
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Crew members of HMS Blake.
A
reproduction of this original photo / photo-postcard size 10" x
7" approx available. Order photograph here © Walker
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The Engines of the Blake.
Photograph taken from book published 1892
by captain Eardley Wilmott. Book owned by Cranston Fine Arts |
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