HMS Tower (1917)
Encyclopedia
HMS Tower was an modified R-class
destroyer
of the Royal Navy
, named after the White Tower
of the Tower of London
. She was built by Swan Hunter
, and launched
on 5 April 1917. She is noted for having the first modern Royal Navy ship's badge. She served as part of the Grand Fleet and Harwich Force.
She held the pennant number of F24 from January 1918 until she was sold in 1928. Prior to this the pennant number of F24 was held by HMS Rival for one year from January 1917 onwards.
; the curator of the government endorsed museum for the collection of artefacts of war.
The Commanding Officer of Tower asked Richardson if he could offer a design for the badge for his ship. Richardson spoke to ffoulkes and together they came up with a design that showed the White Tower of the Tower of London, with the motto "God save King George
and his Tower". This was encased in a circular rope frame, with a Naval Crown at the top, along with the name "Tower" set into a rectangular panel at the bottom. This design set the standard for all future ship's badges and became the design from which all today's badges are derived. Major ffoulkes was subsequently requested to design others and the Admiralty Board set up a Ships' Badges Committee in 1918 to regulate ships' badges with him as the first Adviser on Heraldry.
He is a notable loss as he was the grandson
of Rear Admiral
John Moresby
and great-grandson of former Admiral of the Fleet
Sir Fairfax Moresby
, and most notably, the only descendant of either Admiral Moresby to be in the Royal Navy during World War I. He is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial
as well as the East Lavant War Memorial.
R class destroyer (1916)
The first R class were a class of 62 destroyers built between 1916 and 1917 for the Royal Navy. They were an improvement, specifically in the area of fuel economy, of the earlier M-class destroyers...
destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
of the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
, named after the White Tower
White Tower
-Geography and history:* White Tower of Thessaloniki, a monument and museum in Greece* White Tower of Tehran, Iran* White Tower of Tsarskoye Selo, landscape architecture element in Tsarskoye Selo, Russia...
of the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
. She was built by Swan Hunter
Swan Hunter
Swan Hunter, formerly known as "Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson", was one of the best known shipbuilding companies in the world. Based in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, the company was responsible for some of the greatest ships of the early 20th century — most famously, the RMS Mauretania which...
, and launched
Ship naming and launching
The ceremonies involved in naming and launching naval ships are based in traditions thousands of years old.-Methods of launch:There are three principal methods of conveying a new ship from building site to water, only two of which are called "launching." The oldest, most familiar, and most widely...
on 5 April 1917. She is noted for having the first modern Royal Navy ship's badge. She served as part of the Grand Fleet and Harwich Force.
She held the pennant number of F24 from January 1918 until she was sold in 1928. Prior to this the pennant number of F24 was held by HMS Rival for one year from January 1917 onwards.
Ships Badge
Prior to 1917 there was no standard design for a ship's badge. The first modern ship's badge was designed by Mr George Richardson; Director of the Swan Hunter shipyard on the Tees; and Major Charles ffoulkesCharles ffoulkes
Charles John ffoulkes was a British historian, and curator of the Royal Armouries at London. He wrote extensively on medieval arms and armour....
; the curator of the government endorsed museum for the collection of artefacts of war.
The Commanding Officer of Tower asked Richardson if he could offer a design for the badge for his ship. Richardson spoke to ffoulkes and together they came up with a design that showed the White Tower of the Tower of London, with the motto "God save King George
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
and his Tower". This was encased in a circular rope frame, with a Naval Crown at the top, along with the name "Tower" set into a rectangular panel at the bottom. This design set the standard for all future ship's badges and became the design from which all today's badges are derived. Major ffoulkes was subsequently requested to design others and the Admiralty Board set up a Ships' Badges Committee in 1918 to regulate ships' badges with him as the first Adviser on Heraldry.
Loss of Donald Fairfax Mackeson
In 1917 Acting First Lietenant Donald Fairfax Mackeson lost his life on 1 December whilst securing a buoy in heavy weather and after dark. He was later commended by his senior officers "as being an example of fearlessness in the face of danger, and also of great devotion to duty, of which will not be forgotten as long as the flotilla exists."He is a notable loss as he was the grandson
Grandson
Grandson has multiple meanings:*Grandson *Grandson, Switzerland, a municipality in Switzerland*Grandson , a district in Switzerland...
of Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
John Moresby
John Moresby
Captain John Moresby was a British Naval Officer who explored the coast of New Guinea and discovered the site of Port Moresby.Moresby was born in Allerford, Somerset, England, the son of Admiral Sir Fairfax Moresby...
and great-grandson of former Admiral of the Fleet
Admiral of the Fleet
An admiral of the fleet is a military naval officer of the highest rank. In many nations the rank is reserved for wartime or ceremonial appointments...
Sir Fairfax Moresby
Fairfax Moresby
Admiral of the Fleet Sir Fairfax Moresby GCB , born in Calcutta, India, to English parents was a British naval officer.-Early life:Moresby was the eldest son of Fairfax Moresby, Lieut...
, and most notably, the only descendant of either Admiral Moresby to be in the Royal Navy during World War I. He is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial
Chatham Naval Memorial
Chatham Naval Memorial is a large obelisk situated in the town of Chatham, Kent, which is in the Medway Towns.Chatham was a principal manning port of the Royal Navy during the First World War and thus was dedicated as the site of one of three memorials to sailors of the Royal Navy killed during the...
as well as the East Lavant War Memorial.