Photo tour of HMS Edinburgh at decommissioning, May 2013

Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97) berthed alongside museum ship HMS Belfast in the Pool of London, May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Bulkhead hatch on No. 1 deck on board Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Machinery control room on board Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. The machinery control room contains the controls for the propulsion and power, gearing, water plants and air conditioning systems. Photo Richard Ash, IWM.

Machinery control room on board Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo Richard Ash, IWM.

Machinery control room on board Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo Richard Ash, IWM.

Junior Rates dining room on board Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo Richard Ash, IWM.

Communication Operator’s Console in HQ1 on board Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Close-up view of a panel on the Communication Operators Console in HQ1 on board Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

HQ1 (communications centre and damage control HQ) on board Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

General view looking forward along port side of No. 2 deck on board Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Heads on board Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Wardroom on board Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

The formal dining table in the Wardroom on board Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97). Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Forward engine room on board Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Forward engine room on board Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97). Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Captain’s cabin on board Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Pantry off Captain’s day cabin on board Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Captain’s day cabin on board Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Captain’s day cabin on board Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

A view of the board detailing which junior rates are on or off ship and who is on leave. Displayed by the gangway on board Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

The deployed Westland Lynx HMA.8 helicopter of No 815 Naval Air Squadron secured to the flight deck of Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. In front of the helicopter is a GEC Marconi Stingray air-launched, anti-submarine torpedo in a transportation trolley. To the side is a drill MBDA Sea Skua air to surface, anti-ship missile. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Cockpit of the Westland Lynx HAS.8 helicopter of 815 Naval Air Squadron deployed on board Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Cockpit of the Westland Lynx HAS.8 helicopter of 815 Naval Air Squadron which was deployed on board Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

A general view from the flight deck looking forward towards the hangar on board the Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97). The hangar is decorated / arranged for the purposes of entertaining and briefing visitors to the ship during an open day. In usual usage the hangar would house the deployed Westland Lynx HMA.8 helicopter. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Communications Control Room (low power) within the Communications Office of the Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Close up view of a panel in the Communications Control Room (low power) within the Communications Office of the Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Chief Petty Officers’ and Warrant Officers’ Mess on board Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Chief Petty Officers’ and Warrant Officers’ Mess on board Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Officer’s single berth cabin on board Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

General view of the bunkspace in Messdeck 3S on board Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97). Messdeck 3S (three-sierra) was home to forty-two Weapons Engineering (WE) or Communications Information Systems (CIS) ratings. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

General view of the bunkspace in Messdeck 3S on board Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97). Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

General view of the bunkspace in Messdeck 3S on board Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97). Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

General view of the bunkspace in Messdeck 3S on board Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97). Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

The mess square for messdeck 3S on board Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Messdeck 3S (three-sierra) was home to forty two Weapons Engineering (WE) or Communications Information Systems (CIS) ratings. The mess square would be used for rest, recreation and socialising. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Workstation and consoles in the After 909 Office on board the Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97). This was one of two compartments which housed the machinery for the ship’s two Type 909 fire control radar sets used in conjunction with the ship’s Sea Dart guided missile weapon system. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Close up of a panel in the After 909 Office on board the Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Transmitter in the after 909 Office on board the Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Workstation and consoles in the After 909 Office on board the Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97). Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Close up of a panel in the After 909 Office on board the Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Inside the dome for the After 909 radar on board the Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM

Inside the dome for the After 909 radar on board the Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Ship’s Office on board the Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. The office is where general administrative duties were carried out including arranging travel warrants, foreign currency during overseas tours, pay and all personnel issues. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

The galley on board the Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. The galley would provide three meals per day at set times for the ships company of approximately 269, served canteen messing style in the Junior Rates dining room, the Senior Rates dining room and the Wardroom. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

The galley on board the Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

The galley on board the Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Operations Room on board the Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), Mary 2013. The nerve centre for the ship the Operations Room contains the Captain’s position, Navigators position, the Principal Weapons Officer’s position, the weapons and radar control systems, the Tactical Firing position and the aircraft controllers station. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Operations Room on board the Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Operations Room on board the Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Operations Room on board the Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Operations Room on board the Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Operations Room on board the Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Operations Room on board the Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Sick Bay on board the Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. At most times two medical assistants worked here. When the ship was on tour for extended periods of time, a medical officer was also present. The role of the medical staff was preventative medicine and hygiene, monitoring of the environmental conditions on board as well as providing first aid and basic remedies for minor illness. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Fleet Protection Office on board the Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. This room was used by members of Fleet Protection Group, Royal Marines (latterly called 43 Commando Royal Marines) when embarked on the ship during patrols for counter-piracy or anti-drug smuggling operations. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

General view of the Sea Dart Quarters of the Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Within this room mechanical control and maintenance of the Sea Dart anti-air missile system, the ship’s principal weapon system, is managed. Fire control for the weapon is directed from the Operations Room. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

Sea Dart Quarters of the Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

General view of a section of the 4.5″ gunbay on board the Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Inside the barbette of the ship’s 4.5 inch Mark 8 Mod 1 gun. Having been received from the feed ring in the gunbay, the rounds were fed via this hoist to the gun in the gunhouse above. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

General view of a section of the 4.5″ gunbay on board the Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

The 4.5″ Gun Power Room on board the Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97). From this room, the ship’s 4.5 inch Mark 8 Mod 1 gun was mechanically (electrical) controlled and administered. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

General view of the Bridge of the Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Within the bridge can be found the Quartermaster’s steering position in the left seat, the Captain’s chair on the right, the chart table for navigation along with the WECDIS or Warship Electronic Chart Display Information System, a combined map, GPS navigation and tracking radar / sonar and combat systems feed. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

General view of the Bridge of the Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo: Richard Ash, IWM.

General view of the Bridge of the Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer HMS Edinburgh (D97), May 2013. Photo Richard Ash, IWM.

‘Attack on Taranto, 11 November 1940’ by John Alan Hamilton

‘Attack on Taranto, 11 November 1940’ by John Alan Hamilton. Painting in collection of Imperial War Museum.

‘Minesweepers under Attack, Thames Estuary, October 1940’

‘Minesweepers under Attack, Thames Estuary, October 1940’ by John Alan Hamilton. Painting in collection of Imperial War Museum.

Paintings of the London Docks 1939 – 1945

Isle of Dogs Life

The Council for the Encouragement of Music and the Arts Canteen Concert, Isle of Dogs, London, E14 by Kenneth Rowntree – IWM (Imperial War Museums) 1941

At the beginning of  the Second World War, the War Artists Advisory Committee was created to look at ways that Art could be used to support the war effort.

The Committee was led by Sir Kenneth Clark , Director of the National Gallery  with the remit of documenting the conflict, raising morale and promoting national culture.

It was recognised that the original war artist scheme in the First World War had played an important role and Clark bought together a number of well known artists and commissioned work at home and aboard.

Artist such as Henry Moore, Graham Sutherland and Stanley Spencer produced works,however there was a large number of artists who used the conflict to record the day to day existence of ordinary…

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Empire’s Shield – Royal Navy silent film collection from 1914-1918

EMPIRE’S SHIELD Royal Navy Main Title (IWM 551).

• (Reel 1) The training of a naval cadet – Pangbourne, HMS Worcester, HMS Medway.
• (Reel 2) Scenes from the building of a merchant vessel. Shots of a Standard Tanker being launched on the Clyde, female dockyard labour, dazzle painted merchant ships, etc.
• (Reel 3) Various types of cargo unloaded at the East India Docks. Grimsby trawlers unloading and preparing for the next voyage. Medium shot groups of merchant officers and crews.
• (Reel 4) Episode portraying the bombardment of Zeebrugge, 11 May, 1917 – a compilation using stockshots and some actuality material.
• (Reel 5) Preparation and execution of a sweep by drifters. Close-ups of HM.TMS Atalanta II.
• (Reel 6) Dramatic reconstruction of the clearance of a recently laid minefield – swept mines are destroyed by rifle and MG fire. Close-ups of the crew of Atalanta II.
• (Reel 7) The Royal Naval Air Service. Probationary flight officers under training at Cranwell. Squadron ‘scrambles’ at Manston. Aerial views of south coast. Balloons on anti-submarine patrol.
• (Reel 8) Construction and wheeling out of a Short 184. Seaplane bombed up. HMS Furious. Felixstowe flying boats. King George V visits the fleet – he meets the crews of various ships.
• (Reel 9) HMS Vindictive and material relating to the Zeebrugge raid.
• (Reel 10) Scenes onboard HMS Canada.
• (Reel 11) First Battle Squadron sorties for live firing practice.