Visit to HMS Belfast, 2008

By Chev. Steve Nimmons KCStG, Dated September 2008

I joined some fine fellows from the Knightly Order of Valiant St. George on a tour of HMS Belfast on Saturday.

HMS Belfast served throughout the Second World War, playing a leading part in the destruction of the battle cruiser Scharnhorst, and also in the Normandy Landings. In service with the Royal Navy until 1965, she was saved for the nation in 1971 as a unique reminder of Britain’s naval heritage.

A fascinating fact of which I was unaware was that the ship's bell (pictured below) was occasionally used as a Christening font. There are names engraved on the inner lip of the bell of children who were baptised by this means! The bell is engraved with the coat of arms and motto of the city of Belfast.

You can find out more about HMS Belfast on the official site.
http://hmsbelfast.iwm.org.uk/

Other pictures I took can be viewed in this flickr photo set.

The visit also raised a tidy sum for the Army Benevolent Fund.

HMS Belfast's ships bell.

HMS Belfast's Guns

Replica shells that would have been fired from HMS Belfast.