| 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.
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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. |
HMS Orlando - in dry dock at Sydney.
A
reproduction of this original photo size 10" x
7" approx available. Order photograph here © Walker
Archive. Order Code BLD0003 |
HMS Orlando in dry dock, Sydney.
A
reproduction of this original photo size 10" x
7" approx available. Order photograph here © Walker
Archive. Order Code BLD0004 |
|
The besieged soldiers of Peking and their
relievers who are shown in Khaki uniforms c.1900.
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HMS Orlando c.1902
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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 |
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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) |
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