Hercules dressed up to the nines then stripped of all her finery
The following photographs, above and below, come from my regular correspondent and postcard collector supreme Robert James of Milton. They are of HMS Hercules – a central-battery ironclad of the Royal Navy launched in 1868.
After various commissions she was held in reserve at Portsmouth until 1904.
She changed her name to Calcutta in 1904 and served as a depot ship at Gibraltar until 1914 when she was towed back to Portsmouth and became Artificers Training Establishment Fisgard II. By this time lacking masts, funnels, armament and superstructure.
She is pictured, above, in 1902 perhaps dressed for the coronation of Edward VII.
The coronation was to take place in June of that year but as the King was ill it was put back until August so perhaps that is when this photograph was taken.
The picture, below, is possibly HMS Hercules after being deflowered and her guns and masts removed. I dread to think what conditions must have been like on board her.
If anyone can tell me more about her, I would be glad to know. 1969: Beatle John Lennon married Yoko Ono in Gibraltar. 1974: An attempt to kidnap Princess Anne was made by a gunman who fired six shots, then tried to drag her from her car in Pall Mall. He was later charged with attempted murder. 1980: The pirate radio station Radio Caroline, on the ship Mi Amigo, sank after 16 years of broadcasting. 1989: The IRA killed two senior Royal Ulster Constabulary officers in an ambush. BIRTHDAYS: Dame Vera Lynn, singer, 102; William Hurt, actor, 69; Spike Lee, actor/director, 62; Holly Hunter, actress, 61; Paul Merson, former footballer, 51; Jane March, actress, 46; Alex Kapranos, singer and guitarist (Franz Ferdinand), 47; Freema Agyeman, actress, 40.