Commander Mundy of the Ardent and his Officers.

ANV02106b. Commander Mundy of the Ardent and his Officers.

The photograph shows officers of the torpedo boat destroyer Ardent with Commander G H B Mundy, in command of the vessel, seated in the centre. An interesting feature of this photograph is the tablet shown behind the officers recording the battle services, which in the Naval annuls stand to the credit of the man-of-war name Ardent. This photograph is of the fifth ship of the name and the tablet records the two noteworthy events in which Ardent figured - commemorating the presence of an Ardent - the third of the name (a 64 gun ship), in battle with Duncan at Camperdown in 1797, and with Nelson at Copenhagen four years later. After Copenhagen, indeed, Lord Nelson himself on the day following the fight went on board the Ardent and personally congratulated the captain on the way he had fought his ship. The appropriate motto of this Ardent, which appeared on the tablet, was this Death rather than disgrace.

Digital Download.

Size approx 12 inches x 8 inches (31cm x 20cm)