HMS Royal Adelaide

Part of my great-grandfather's service record. He joined his first ship, HMS Royal Adelaide, in May 1885 as ship's writer (3rd class), but didn't travel far. Although the Royal Adelaide was an enlarged version of the Victory and capable of carrying 104 32 pound guns on three gun decks she never saw active service. Built at Plymouth Dockyard she was launched in 1828 by the Duchess Adelaide of Clarence. She was initially used as the flagship of the port Admiral and was moored in the Hamoaze. In 1859 she was re-commissioned to serve as the local receiving ship providing accomodation for new recruits - which is presumably how my great-grandfather came to be on her - and the port Admiral's flagship at Plymouth. There she remained unitl 1891 when she was towed to Chatham, again serving as a receiving and depot ship. The Royal Adelaide was finally paid off in 1904 and sold for scrap in April 1905, being broken up in Dunkirk.

There is a nice image of the ship at anchor in Devonport in 1890 in the Francis Firth collection