Thames View
Looking downstream at the new financial district in the Docklands in fine autumnal sunshine. Taken from atop Tower Bridge.
In the foreground is HMS President, a division of the Royal Naval Reserve (RNR). It consists of over 370 officers and ratings, making it one of the largest in the country, drawing recruits from the City, as well as further afield.
There had been a drill ship moored in London since 1 April 1862. This was the 58-gun frigate HMS President, berthed at the West India Docks and training ship of the local RNR. Various succeeding ships were renamed as HMS President, the last being HMS Saxifrage, which was renamed on 9 September 1921. She was moored at King's Reach on 19 June 1922 and was joined in 1938 by HMS Chrysanthemum, which served as a drill hall and gave extra space for activities.
HMS President was taken over in 1939 for the training of Defensively-Equipped Merchant Ship (DEMS) gunners and sailors. The RNR division was been closed by April 1940 and reformed in October 1946.
In the mid-1980s the River-class minesweeper HMS Humber was attached to the base. In 1988 both HMS President and HMS Chrysanthemum were sold and the division moved ashore, into the purpose-built training centre seen above, next to Tower Bridge and overlooking St Katharine Docks. This had formerly been the site of the P&O London ferry terminal. HMS Humber was transferred away from the base in 1994.
Thames View
Looking downstream at the new financial district in the Docklands in fine autumnal sunshine. Taken from atop Tower Bridge.
In the foreground is HMS President, a division of the Royal Naval Reserve (RNR). It consists of over 370 officers and ratings, making it one of the largest in the country, drawing recruits from the City, as well as further afield.
There had been a drill ship moored in London since 1 April 1862. This was the 58-gun frigate HMS President, berthed at the West India Docks and training ship of the local RNR. Various succeeding ships were renamed as HMS President, the last being HMS Saxifrage, which was renamed on 9 September 1921. She was moored at King's Reach on 19 June 1922 and was joined in 1938 by HMS Chrysanthemum, which served as a drill hall and gave extra space for activities.
HMS President was taken over in 1939 for the training of Defensively-Equipped Merchant Ship (DEMS) gunners and sailors. The RNR division was been closed by April 1940 and reformed in October 1946.
In the mid-1980s the River-class minesweeper HMS Humber was attached to the base. In 1988 both HMS President and HMS Chrysanthemum were sold and the division moved ashore, into the purpose-built training centre seen above, next to Tower Bridge and overlooking St Katharine Docks. This had formerly been the site of the P&O London ferry terminal. HMS Humber was transferred away from the base in 1994.