HMS Eaglet (shore establishment)

History
United Kingdom
Name: HMS Eaglet
Commissioned: 1904
Status: Active
Badge:
General characteristics
Class and type: Stone frigate

The Royal Navy has had a presence in Liverpool & Merseyside area for hundreds of years in varying formats. This article regards the reserves training taking place at HMS Eaglet (ex HMS Eagle). The unit trains local men & women for a variety of roles in the Royal Naval Reserve. In addition to housing a number of other naval units & roles within the establishment, including but not limited to: Royal Marine Reserves Merseyside, NRCNE, Liverpool URNU, HMS Biter, HMS Charger, Local Sea Cadet Corps & ACLO functions.

Current

The current ‘Stone Frigate’ is based on Brunswick Dock in Liverpool, opened in 1998 by HRH the Duke of Edinburgh. As outlined above it is also home to several other functions and units in addition to the Reservists of HMS Eaglet.

History

This history of the Royal Navy, training and reserves in Merseyside is a long one. There has been a reserves training unit commissioned in Liverpool since 1904, then Mersey Division RNVR. Much of the unit’s history has been afloat, with various ships taking up the mantle of HMS Eagle and later Eaglet to engage with the maritime element of training as well as drawing recruitment to itself and sub-units (now defunct) to engage with the region. In 2018 HMS Eaglet celebrates her centenary.

The Mersey Division of the RNVR was established in Customs House, Liverpool in 1904, before moving to HMS Eagle, a 50 gun frigate at Brunswick Dock, in 1911. Mersey Division was mobilised in 1914 to form part of the Royal Naval Division, serving at Gallipoli, the battles of Battle of Vimy Ridge, Passchendaele and Cambrai.

To avoid confusion with a newer HMS Eagle, the frigate was renamed HMS Eaglet in 1918. The ship was destroyed in a fire in 1926, and replaced by the First World War 24-class sloop HMS Sir Bevis, which was renamed Eaglet. The new Eaglet was berthed at Salthouse Dock. During the Second World War, Eaglet became the flagship of Commander-in-Chief Western Approaches. In 1971, the sloop was scrapped and HMS Eaglet moved ashore to a new HQ at Prince's Dock. In 1993, Eaglet received the freedom of the city of Liverpool.

Current tenders

The Archer-class patrol vessels HMS Biter associated with Manchester URNU and HMS Charger associated with Liverpool URNU.

Commanding Officers

  • Surgeon Commander Rourke; 2018 - Current
  • Commander Hoyle; 2014 - 2018
  • Commander Russ; 2011 - 2014

.....

  • Commander The Earl of Latham; 1904 - 1911

Famous attendees

References

  • Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8.
  • Evans, B. (2003). HMS Eaglet; The Story Of The Royal Naval Reserves On Merseyside. Countyvise Publishing. ISBN 1901231380.
  • HMS Eaglet, Royal Navy
  • RMR Merseyside, Royal Navy

Coordinates: 53°23′15″N 2°58′52″W / 53.3875°N 2.9812°W / 53.3875; -2.9812


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