Accommodation ships

Roderick Stewart has sent in the photograph below and says: “Regarding the boats feature, other readers have pointed out that it is, of course, Earl Grey Dock, not Victoria Dock.

“HMS Unicorn is painted with her white ‘wale’. This was overpainted in black during the Second World War and was repainted white by September 1945.

“An ‘Algerine’ class minesweeper can be seen behind Unicorn’s bow. Two were based successively in Dundee as static accommodation ships; the first, HMS Jewel, arrived on January 3 1948 and was replaced by HMS Circe in September 1951. The photograph could show either.

“The canvas dodger running along the gangway between Unicorn’s masts is painted with ‘Tay Division RNVR’. This was changed to ‘RNR’ in 1958 when the RNR and RNVR were combined into the modern RNR.

“The wooden rail topping Unicorn’s stern galleries was in place at the time of the 1953 coronation but was removed soon after, I think during 1955 repairs. The masts are painted a dark colour. By 1956, they had been repainted in white.

“The anchor from HMS Brilliant, Unicorn’s predecessor in Dundee, was removed to HMS Condor, the naval air station by Arbroath, in August 1952. It does not seem to be in the photograph, but that section is shadowed.

“My conclusion is that the photograph must date from between January 1948 and mid 1955, probably between January 1948 and August 1952.

“During this period, Unicorn was renamed HMS Cressy to release the name Unicorn for an aircraft carrier, but I have referred to her as Unicorn for tidiness.”

Picture: University of Dundee Archive Services. Demolition of the Royal Arch in Dundee. Read more below right.

Gracie Fields presenting prizes to the Sea Cadets in May 1949. Read more about the period above.