Royal Navy cruisers, heavy cruisers and light cruisers in naval historical art prints. Royal Navy cruiser website dedicated to the Ceres Class. HMS Ceres, HMS Cardiff, HMS Coventry, HMS Curacoa, HMS Curlew including crew and families of ex-crew members notice board for the Ceres Class cruisers.

HMS Cardiff served with the Home Fleet in 1939 then as a training ship from 1940-45 after which she was put into reserve. HMS Ceres served with the Home Fleet in 1939, then the Mediterranean Fleet in 1940 and the East Indies from 1940-42. From 1942-43 Ceres served with the Eastern fleet and finally serving as an accommodation ship from 1944-45. HMS Coventry and HMS Curlew both served in the home Fleet from 1939-40 where Curlew was lost after being bombed by a German Aircraft Carrier off Norway. HMS Coventry went on to serve in the Mediterranean Fleet from 1940-42 when she too was bombed by both German and Italian Aircraft Carriers off Tobruk. HMS Curacoa served with the Home Fleet from 1940-42 when she was lost in a collision with the SS Queen Mary near Donegal.

Displacement: 4,190 tons    Speed: 29kt    Complement: 400 increasing to 437 as a Flagship.

HMS Cardiff, July 1945.

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  XMP1164

HMS Cardiff, July 1935.

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  XMP1162

HMS Cardiff, July 1945.

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  XMP1163

HMS Cardiff 

HMS Cardiff, 1925.

"30 miles per hour, March 2nd 1925".

HMS Cardiff on steam trials, 2nd March 1925.

The Arbuthnot Trophy for Marathon.

Won by HMS Cardiff in 1922 and 1924.

The phrase on the trophy, "Mens Sana In Corpore Sano" means Healthy Mind in a Health Body.

HMS Cardiff (centre) with the sloop HMS Bryony (left) and HMS Calypso (right) at Venice, 1926.

Ship's Company of HMS Cardiff, Malta c.1924.

Football team of HMS Cardiff.

HMS Cardiff - Engine Room Chiefs & P.O.s Football Team 1924.

Football team of HMS Cardiff - Royal Marines 5-a-side team.

Crew members of HMS Cardiff, March 1923.

HMS Cardiff, Racing Whaler's Crew.

Winners of the Cusani Cup, July 1925.

Crew members of HMS Cardiff, April 1921.

Crew members of HMS Cardiff, Alexandria, February 1925.

One of the rowing / cutter teams of HMS Cardiff.

Crew members of HMS Cardiff.

Admrial Sir L Chatfield leaving HMS Cardiff, January 18th 1925.

Also several other ship present at Malta in this photo.

The band of HMS Cardiff c.1924.

Crew members of HMS Cardiff.

HMS Cardiff's trip to Cartagena, Spain, 1924.

Bullfight given in honour of British Fleet's visit to Tarragona (?) Spain, September 1924.

HMS Ceres.

HMS Ceres making smoke.

HMS Ceres 'Chasing Torpedoes'

Danae Class cruiser in the foreground with HMS Ceres in the centre and another cruiser behind.

Firing a torpedo from HMS Ceres.

HMS Ceres during heavy seas.

"Prince Lewie Cup Winners, Sailing, Corfu 1924".

HMS Ceres at Malta c.1920. 

Percy Knight and mate on HMS Ceres.

A reproduction of this original photo / photo-postcard size 10" x 7" approx available.  Order photograph here  © Walker Archive. Order Code  PHC290

George B. Chatfield

Opposite is a page taken from George's Diary.   These were provided by Bill Logan.

HMS Coventry

HMS Coventry built by Swan Hunter at Wallsend was initially going to be called HMS Corsair. and laid down on the 4th August 1916, and launched 6th July 1917 completed for naval service in February 1918.  HMS Coventry joined the 5th Light Cruiser squadron  in February 1918 till May 1919, and served in the Baltic in this time. Commissioned in may 1919 into the Atlantic fleet, until in 1920 when HMS Coventry became the HQ ship for naval Inter allied Disarmament Commission. Went into refit in  late 1920 once completed she joined the 2nd Light cruiser squadron and flagship to the Rear admiral Atlantic Fleet. A Torpedo Explosion while in Malta in March1923 caused the death of two crew.  At the outbreak of world war two HMS Coventry was serving with the Home Fleet between 1939 and 1940, moving to the Mediterranean fleet in 1940 until being sunk off Tobruk on the 14th September 1942 by German and Italian aircraft.

Displacement: 4,190 tons    Speed: 29kt    Complement: 400 increasing to 437 as a Flagship.

HMS Coventry, 1925.

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  XMP1165

HMS Coventry, May 1935.

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  XMP1166

HMS Coventry, May 1935.

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  XMP1167

HMS Coventry, May 1935.

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  XMP1168

HMS Coventry.

HMS Coventry, 1937.

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  XMP1169

HMS Coventry 

The deck of HMS Coventry with unusual cargo 

HMS Curacoa.

HMS Curacoa, 1935.

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  XMP1171

HMS Curacoa, 1935.

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  XMP1170

HMS Curacoa. 

HMS Curacoa 1935.

HMS Curacoa, 3rd Cruiser Squadron, Mediterranean, 1929.

A reproduction of this original photo / photo-postcard size 10" x 7" approx available.  Order photograph here  © Walker Archive. Order Code  LGE016

Three officers in this photo and their respective service records are as follows:

Arthur John Davies :  Midshipman 15th January 1894; Sub-Lieutenant 15th July 1897; Lieutenant 15th January 1899; Commander 31st December 1909; Captain 31st December 1915; Rear Admiral 25th October 1926; Vice Admiral 4th April 1931; Retired (Officer Reserve) 1st June 1931.  Admiral (Retired) 1st January 1936; Died 13th December 1954.

Awarded CB(C) 1st January 1927; KBE(M) 1st January 1943 and Mentioned in Despatches 24th August 1943.  Awarded Coronation Medal 1911 

Service : HMS Excellent August - December 1914; HMS Tiger December 1914 - 1916; Air Department as Armament Captain 1916 - 1917; HMS Cassandra (In Command) 1917 - 1918; HMS Lion (In Command) May 1918 - 1919.  HMS Revenge as Chief of Staff to CinC Atlantic Fleet August 1924 - 1927.  HMS Curacoa as Rear Admiral Commanding 3rd Light Cruiser Squadron, Mediterranean December 1928 - 1930.  HMS Eaglet II as Commodore of Convoys, March 1940 - 1944.

Henry Evelyn Charles Blagrove : Born 26th April 1887; Midshipman 15th October 1903; Sub-Lieutenant 15th December 1906; Lieutenant 30th June 1909; Lieutenant Commander 30th June 1917; Commander 31st December 1919; Captain 30th June 1927; Rear Admiral 10th January 1939; Died 14th October 1939.

Awarded Al Valore Militare (Silver) 17th November 1917; Jubilee Medal 1935; Coronation Medal 1937;

Also medalled for : Persian Gulf 1909 - 1914 in HM Armed Launch Karauja; HMS Tiger 1914 - 1917; HMS Queen Elizabeth 1917 - 1919; Palestine 1936 - 1939 in command of HMS Sussex 1937 - 1938; HMS Royal Oak as Rear Admiral Commanding 2nd Battle Squadron, Home Fleet, September to October 1939 (Lost 14th October 1939)

Service : HMS Good Hope 1903 - 1907; RN College 1907 - 1908; HMS Good Hope April 1908 - August 1908; HMS Flirt August 1908 - September 1908; HMS Arab 1908 - 1909; HMS Invincible 1909 - 1911; HMS Highflyer 1911 - 1912; HMS Pelorus 1912 - 1913; HMS Pomone for Dartmouth College 1913 - 1914; HMS Tiger 1914 - 1917; HMS Queen Elizabeth 1917 - 1919; Duty at Cambridge University 1920 - 1921; Office of Second Sea Lord 1922 - 1923; HMS Cardiff 1923 - 1925; SOTC May - July 1925; HMS Vivid for Devonport Barracks 1925 - 1927; HMS Constance November 1927 - December 1927; SOWC March 1928 - September 1928; SOTC October 1928 - December 1928; HMS Curacoa (In Command) 1929 - 1931; HMS Victory in charge of Physical Training School 1931 - 1932; HMS Delhi (In Command) April 1932 - May 1932; Tac Course May 1932 - August 1932; SOTC May 1932 - August 1932; HMS Norfolk (In Command) and as Chief of Staff 1932 - 1934; Naval assistant to Second Sea Lord 1934 - 1937; HMS Sussex (In Command) 1936 - 1938; HMS Royal Oak as Rear Admiral Commanding 2nd Battle Squadron, Home Fleet, September 1939 - October 1939.

Richard Hugh Loraine Bevan : Born 10th July 1885; Midshipman 30th May 1901; Sub-Lieutenant 20th July 1904; Lieutenant 31st December 1906; Lieutenant Commander 31st December 1914; Commander 31st December 1917; Captain 31st August 1923; Rear Admiral 25th August 1935; Retired 26th August 1935; RRL 17th January 1946; Died 10th May 1976.

Mentioned in Despatches 16th August 1915; Commended 14th March 1916; Awarded Distinguished Service Order 14th March 1916; Legion of Honour 5 25th January 1918; Mentioned in Despatches 22nd April 1919; ONile 4 21st June 1919; MVO4 17th August 1923; CB(M) 11th June 1942; KBE(M) 1st January 1946; Legion of Merit 3 16th July 1946.

Also medalled for : Delhi Durbar Medal 1911; Jubilee Medal 1935; Liaket Medal 7th November 1907; O.White Eagle 3; Swedish Red Cross Medal 1946.

Naval Historians, Crew & Family Noticeboard

MESSAGES

HMS CARDIFF

BLACK.. My father was a sub Lieutenant (stern gunnery officer) on HMS Cardiff in WW1. When HMS Cardiff went out alone to lead the German High Seas Fleet into the Firth of Forth on 21st November 1918, the stern guns were the only armoury trained on the German Fleet which at that time was still fully armed. I would be interested to hear from anyone who had a connection with anyone serving on HMS Cardiff from 1917-1918. Contact me at hugh@black10.fsworld.co.uk 

JAMES GREENWOOD.. My father served on HMS Cardiff during WW2, he then went on to the "Nellie" HMS Nelson then into submarines, I would like to make contact with anyone who may have served with my father. Email me at amandajane@hotmail.com 

HMS CERES

FRANCIS JOSEPH HARBOURT...   My husband's father, Francis Joseph "Shorty" Harbourt, Motor Machinist Mate, USN,  was assigned for temporary duty on the HMS Ceres on June 6, 1944 and the following 10 days until reassigned to US Naval Advance Base Number 11.  He died several years ago without ever telling us about his duty on D-Day. We are looking for information concerning why he would be assigned temporary duty ON June 6, 1944 (i.e., not the several days before when they were loading). The transfer effective that day seems odd.  Possible speculation was that he was serving on one of the groups that finished their work prior to D-Day (such as the vessels laying mines or another support group. )Prior to the temporary assignment on the HMS Ceres, his duty was at USNAATB, Fowey, Cornwall.  He came over from New York to England in January 1944 on LCT(5) Flotilla Nine.  After Sept. 1944 - he was sent to UDT school in Florida - then to the Pacific.  We would also like to know the HMS Ceres activities on D-Day and several weeks after.  Any information, please email maureen.harbourt@keanmiller.com

The cruiser HMS Ceres was in the port of Vela Luka (island of Korcula in Croatia) between 31st July 1933 and 2nd August 1933. The Captain Fr Cook organised a rowing competition between ship's crew and local people. Boat lengths were 6 metres, with 6 crew and the distance to row was 2380 metres. Does anyone have a photo of the Captain or of the ships crew? Contact me at ultra_red@gmx.net 

HMS COVENTRY

WOODS.. ARTHURS..  I have been trying to contact Barry Woods as my father served with his father on board Coventry until her demise in 1942. He recently attended the 60th anniversary at Coventry Cathedral. Contact David Arthurs at DJ.Arthurs@ulster.ac.uk 

HMS Coventry by Ivan Berryman.

Signed limited edition of 1150 prints. Image size 12 inches x 7 inches (31cm x 18cm). Price £24.00

Limited edition of 50 artist proofs. Image size 12 inches x 7 inches (31cm x 18cm). Price £38.00