HMS Orlando

HMS Orlando. Royal Navy armoured Cruiser. HMS Orlando was built at palmers, Jarrow and laid down on the 23rd April 1885 and launched 3rd August 1886 and completed June 1888. HMS Orlando first tour of duty was to go to the Australian station from 1890. leaving their to go to China un 1899. where many of her crew participated in the action at . On HMS Orlando's return to Britain in 1901 she was reduced to subsidiary duties and placed in reserve in 1902. In the whole record of the operations in China there is nothing more stirring than the splendid effort made by Admiral Sir E H Seymour to relieve the Peking Legations at an early stage of their beleaguerment. In the mixed force under the Admiral's command there was a strong detachment of ordinary seamen from HMS Orlando. When within 23 miles of Peking the force had to retire, as it was utterly impossible to cut a way through the masses of well-armed Chinese troops between it and the capital. In the retirement, leading seaman George of the Orlando specially distinguished himself by his gallantry in towing junks full of wounded out of the enemy's fire. For this splendid action George was given the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal, and was also presented with a gold medal by the United States Government. Displacement: 5,600 tons. Horse power: 8,500. Length 300ft. Beam: 56 ft. Draught: 22 ft 6 ins. Armament: two 22 ton guns, ten 6-pounder guns and ten 3-pounder quick-firers, and had a partial belt of 10 ins armour. Speed:18.1 knots. Complement: 484.
HMS Orlando. A reproduction of this original photo / photo-postcard size 10" x 7" approx available. Order photograph here © Walker Archive. Order Code PHC763	HMS Orlando, 1896. 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 XMP905 Original republished © MPL Photograph (Postcard Size). Price £5 Click here to order. Order Code MP905
HMS Orlando - Flagship on the Australian Station The Orlando was a steel first-class cruiser and was completed for sea in 1888. She was built by Messrs Palmer at Jarrow and engined by the same firm. In 1896 she carried the flag of Rear-Admiral Cyprian A G Bridge.	HMS Orlando in 1902 The cruiser also served at the China Station during the Boxer Rebellion.
Midshipmen on the quarterdeck of the Orlando c.1900.	The "Orlando's" who fought gallantly at Tientsin were the first European force to arrive there.
The musicians of the Orlando who accompanied Admiral Seymour in his dash towards Peking acted as stretcher-bearers during the Boxer Rebellion.
The besieged soldiers of Peking and their relievers who are shown in Khaki uniforms c.1900.	HMS Orlando c.1902
Some of the hard fighters. Captain Halliday R.M.L.I. is at the back. Commander Wright is in the front row.	A Group of Orlando's Officers. Some of the men who did good service in China
The Orlando's pet, Billy the Goat.
In the whole record of the operations in China there is nothing more stirring than the splendid effort made by Admiral Sir E H Seymour to relieve the Peking Legations at an early stage of their beleaguerment. In the mixed force under the Admiral's command there was a strong detachment of ordinary seamen from HMS Orlando. When within 23 miles of Peking the force had to retire, as it was utterly impossible to cut a way through the masses of well-armed Chinese troops between it and the capital. In the retirement, leading seaman George of the Orlando specially distinguished himself by his gallantry in towing junks full of wounded out of the enemy's fire. For this splendid action George was given the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal, and was also presented with a gold medal by the United States Government. (text taken form army and naval illustrated 1900)