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HMS Majestic of the
Majestic Class battleships shown in old photographs was built at
Portsmouth Dockyard and was commissioned in December 1895 for service in
the Channel Squadron. HMS Majestic was the flagship of Vice-Admiral the
Lord Walter T Kerr 1896. HMS Majestic was commissioned into the Atlantic
Fleet from August 1906 but was commissioned into the reserve in October
1906. Before joining the Home Fleet (3rd Fleet) at Devonport in May 1912
she was refitted with radio and fire control equipment at Chatham
Dockyard. In July 1912 she was involved in a collision with HMS
Victorious. At the outbreak of World War I she was commissioned at
Devonport for the 7th Battle Squadron in October 1914 she was involved in
escorting Canadian troop convoys and in 1915 involved in the bombardment
of the Belgian coast while serving with the Channel Fleet and Dover
Patrol. She transferred to the Mediterranean and the Dardanelles Operation
on 18th March 1915 she took part in the Dardanelles bombardments on 26th
May she became flagship to Admiral Nicholson but within 24 hours was twice
torpedoed by U-boat 21 during the bombardment off Gaba Tepe. She sank
within 7 minutes but luckily having only 40 casualties.
Armament: four 12 inch guns, twelve 6 inch guns, sixteen 12 pdr
guns, twelve 3 pdr guns, 2 maxims, two 2pdr boat guns and five torpedo
tubes. Displacement: 14,900 tons. Speed: 16.5
knots. Complement: 757.
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| HMS MAJESTIC |
31ST JANUARY 1895 |
TORPEDOED 27TH MAY 1915 |
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HMS Majestic, 1895.
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
XMP191
Original
republished © MPL Photograph (Postcard Size). Price £5 Click here
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HMS Majestic, 1895.
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
XMP193
Original
republished © MPL Photograph (Postcard Size). Price £5 Click here
to order. Order Code MP193 |
|
HMS Majestic - Flagship of the Channel Squadron
Majestic was a steel armoured battleship of the
Spencer Programme and was completed for sea in 1895. She was built at
Portsmouth dockyard and engined by the Naval Construction & Armaments
Co. of Barrow. She was commissioned in December 1895 for the Channel
Squadron where she carried the flag of Vice Admiral the Lord Walter T
Kerr. Original
magazine photo page published 1895 - 1902. Price £25.
Or
reproduction of photograph ready mounted. Price £25. Click here to
order. ORDER CODE 1V62 |
The Senior Flagship of the
Channel Squadron
Except for the Magnificent her
sister ship, the Majestic was without equal among the ships of war afloat
in 1896. Every appliance on board, whatever its nature, was of the latest
design. Her Harveyed-steel armour was a novelty, and its arrangement on
the sides of the ship extended over a much larger area than in ships
designed before her. Her 50 ton guns were a new type; her broadside
armament of quick-firers was the most formidable and the best protected
seen on board a ship of war. The Majestic was launched by Princess Louise,
Marchioness of Lorne, and was commissioned within two years of the laying
of her keel. |
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On the Forecastle of a Modern
Battleship - Up Anchor!
The photograph shows the
forecastle of HMS Majestic looking at the operation of making fast an
anchor after it has been brought clear of the water- that is, bringing up
the anchor from the hawse holes where the cable enters the ship, and
"fishing" and securing it in its resting place on the ship's
side. the actual operation that the group of bluejackets, seen in the
photograph, are carrying out is the swinging out of the davit or derrick
(called the Cat Head in olden times) to which the two bower anchors (one
on each bow) were made fast and secured for sea or "catted". |
Some of the Marines on Board Majestic
The photograph shows some of the Royal Marines - both
artillery and light infantry, as forage caps and Glengarries show -
serving on the flagship of the Channel Squadron in 1896. There was plenty
of scope on board ship for the Marines who took their share of all duties
(except those aloft) side by side with the bluejackets. The Marines were
sent to watches and messes like the sailors, and were quartered at certain
of the heavy and quick-firing guns, under their own officers. They had
their stations at general and fire quarters, and acted as small arm men
with landing parties and took their turn as sentries.
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 ANV1178 order photopage here |
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"God Save the Queen" - Hoisting the Colours
on the Majestic
Each morning, on board every commissioned battleship
and cruiser in Her Majesty's Service the national colours of the British
Fleet - the White Ensign flag, worn at the ensign staff (right at the
stern of the vessel) - are ceremoniously hoisted under a general salute.
In Home waters the ensign is hoisted regularly at eight o'clock in summer,
and at 9 o'clock in winter, all present standing on deck in salute,
according to the custom of the service, and the band of the ship (where
there is one) playing the opening bars of God Save the Queen.
Original Photographic image from
quality magazine published in 1896 image size 10" x 8" approx ,
plus title and specifications. price £25 plus £3 post for UK £10 overseas, recorded airmail
order number ANV1179 order
photograph here |
HMS Majestic, with HMS Victory in the background
c.1898 |
In the Sick Bay of the Majestic 1896
The sick bay accommodation on the Majestic was a
special feature of the ship at the time. The sick bay in both the Majestic
and Magnificent was a fine and roomy apartment, placed forward, with high
walls fitted with cots raised above one another. The place was amply
supplied with washstands and stoves to ensure the utmost comfort for the
occupants under all conditions. The apartment was lighted with electricity
and was well ventilated for that era. They also tried to make the sick bay
cheerful by hanging pictures as can be seen from the photograph above.
Original Photographic 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 ANV1258 order
photograph here |
Lord Walter Kerr and His Officers on board Majestic 1896
Lord Walter Kerr (Vice-Admiral commanding the Channel
Squadron at this time) is shown with the other officers of the on the
quarter-deck of his then flagship, Majestic. The Majestic and the sister
ships of her class carried by Admiralty regulation a company of 757
officers and men of all ranks and ratings; a force equal in numbers to the
average strength of a battalion or regiment of the British Army in 1896.
This total was exceeded when the vessel was used as a flagship, for over
and above the regulation company required to man, work and fight the ship,
there was also the Admiral himself together with his entourage and
official staff - flag-lieutenant, secretary, clerks, and assistant clerks.
Original Photographic image from
quality magazine published in 1896 image size 10" x 8" approx ,
plus title and specifications. price £25 plus £3 post for UK £10 overseas, recorded airmail
order number ANV1259 order
photograph here |
Engine Room Ratings on Board the Majestic in 1896
The engine room staff of artificers and stokers on board a big
first-class battleship such as the Majestic in 1896 could number upwards
of 140 odd men - the total ship's company numbering between 750 and 760.
It took from one year to two years in battleship to train a stoker
thoroughly, the recruits in the first place joining the Navy about the age
of 18, at one or other of the Naval ports. There they were attached to the
Naval depot and received preliminary instruction in their duties, also
going through a course of small arm drill before being embarked for
service afloat. The engine room ratings aboard the Majestic were under the
immediate control of the Engineer officers of the ship, who comprised one
Fleet Engineer, two Engineers, and 4 Assistant Engineers. |
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HMS Majestic c 1915 |
HMS Majestic Pictured Circa
1912
A
reproduction of this original photo / photo-postcard size 10" x
7" approx available. Order photograph here © Walker
Archive. Order Code PH35
|
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The Officers of Channel squadron Flagship HMS Majestic. Photo
of 1898.
Original naval Magazine photograph of March 1898. Image size
8" x 6" price £10. order V4B |
Sir Harry Rawson, Captain Egerton and the officers of
the Majestic c.1900.
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Vice Admiral A K Wilson and Officers of the Majestic
c.1902.
Crew names left to right: Back row - J Pardoe
(gunner), C E Collins (Boatswain), J B Manners (gunner), W H Blake
(gunner), I R Watson (clerk), J B Evans, Lieut. J M Smith, T M Salter
(clerk), O L Parsons, H E Brook (Asst Engineer), H G Robins (clerk).
2nd Row- R B Lavers (chief carpenter), I W Thorn
(gunner), W B Mann (boatswain), W Outfin (Asst Engineer), Sub Lt D
McDowell, Sub Lt H Boys, H W Green (surgeon), H Edwards (Flag Lt), H V
Gordon (Asst Engineer), A S Wyham (clerk), B Porter (Asst
Paymaster), W A Monk (Asst Engineer), Lt E K Arbuthnot.
3rd Row - W J Maudling (Fleet Engineer), Major F G
Kappey, Lt H W Richmond , T Winterbottom (Fleet Paymaster), E Bradford
(Flag Captain), Vice Admiral A K Wilson, G H Willis (secretary), Commander
D R DeChair, E W Luther (fleet surgeon), Lt A A M Duff.
Front Row- H G C Franklin (midshipman), R V De
Halpert (midshipman), E M Grant (midshipman), H J Woodward (midshipman), A
C Fawssett (midshipman), A Rice (midshipman). |
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HMS Majestic.
A
reproduction of this original photo / photo-postcard size 10" x
7" approx available. Order photograph here © Walker
Archive. Order Code PH495 |
HMS Majestic.
A
reproduction of this original photo / photo-postcard size 10" x
7" approx available. Order photograph here © Walker
Archive. Order Code PH496 |
|
Colour postcard of HMS Majestic |
HMS Majestic.
A
reproduction of this original photo / photo-postcard size 10" x
7" approx available. Order photograph here © Walker
Archive. Order Code PH494 |
| HMS
Majestic - Sister ships of the Majestic Class |
| HMS CAESAR |
2ND SEPTEMBER 1896 |
SOLD FOR B/U 8TH NOVEMBER 1921 |
| HMS HANNIBAL |
28TH APRIL 1896 |
SOLD FOR B/U 28TH JANUARY 1920 |
| HMS ILLUSTRIOUS |
17 SEPTEMBER 1896 |
SOLD FOR B/U 18TH JUNE 1920 |
| HMS JUPITER |
18TH NOVEMBER 1895 |
SOLD FOR B/U 15TH JANUARY 1920 |
| HMS MAGNIFICENT |
19TH DECEMBER 1894 |
SOLD FOR B/U 9TH MAY 1921 |
| HMS MARS |
30TH MARCH 1896 |
SOLD FOR B/U 9TH MAY 1921 |
| HMS PRINCE GEORGE |
22ND AUGUST 1895 |
SOLD FOR B/U 21ST SEPTEMBER 1921 |
| HMS VICTORIOUS |
19TH OCTOBER 1895 |
SOLD FOR B/U 19TH DECEMBER 1922 |
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G E FULLER. My grandfather served on the Majestic in 1906. He
recieved a medal which has his name,rank,sevice number,name of ship and
ends with 6"QF i am told it was for marksmanship? any information
would be good. Contact
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