Ajax Collectables

A sample from a variety of collectables featuring the Cruiser HMS Ajax

 

Cigarette Cards, Tea Cards & Others

HMS Ajax

Ringtons, Tea Card, 1963, No.21 

Established in 1907 Ringtons Tea is a specialist tea company in the north east of England with a business model of selling direct to the user rather than through conventional retail distribution networks. This Card is No. 21 of a series named “Ships of the Royal Navy” comprising 25 cards published in 1963. Ringtons point of difference is that since about 1920 they have had range of collectables manufactured for them, principally in the form of tea pots, jugs, cups and saucers and their iconic square tea caddies to help promote their products. These have long since acquired a loyal following of collectors such that many pieces are now keenly sought after. A quick visit to eBay to view these will prove interesting.




HMS Ajax
Players Cigarettes Card, 1962

Produced by John Player in 1962 was this series entitled "Ships of the Royal Navy" comprising 32 cards featuring British warships over the era 1902 - 1939.

 

HMS Ajax
Marine Bubble Gum Card, 7.8cms x 6.3cms

 



HMS Ajax
Cigarette card
From a series “Famous British Ships”

 

In 1952 the Amalgamated Tobacco Corporation (South Africa) Ltd, of Johannesburg, produced two series of cigarette cards entitled "Famous British Ships". Each series comprised 25 cards featuring a mixture of well known warships and merchant vessels. This card is Number 5 from the second series. Ajax's consorts  at the Battle of the River Plate, the Achilles and the Exeter, featured in that same series numbered 4 and 6 respectively. The illustration shows the ship "as built" being easily identified by single masts as opposed to her later tripod masts.

 

Reference source:  Mr Alan Phillips, Surrey, England (Ex crew member the frigate HMS Ajax).).



HMS Ajax
Lyons Tea Card No. 18 of a series
Total number in series not known

HMS Ajax
Gatun Locks, Panama Canal. Believed on first commission, 1935-1937
Postcard by Clive F Fennessy, Edinburgh

Marine Bubble Gum, a Canadian company, published prior to May 1941 a series of cards showing contemporary allied naval vessels. How many cards were in the series is not known but this author has sighted No. 114 with that card showing the British Destroyer HMS Witch. Ships from the Royal Navy, the Royal Australian Navy, the Royal Canadian Navy and the Royal Indian Navy are known to have been included.

Of the eighteen cards seen by this author card No 37 of HMS Belfast is not a particularly accurate image of the vessel as the hull is disproportionally shown stretched.

A collection of these is held in the War, Memory and Popular Culture Archive of The University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, Canada.

HMS Ajax No.4 in an unknown series Unknown manufacturer

Porcelain

HMS Ajax III
Ship’s Figurehead
By Royal Doulton

Royal Doulton, as it is now known, commenced as a pottery business in 1815 in Lambeth, south of London, England, with products as mundane as sewer pipe before over the years adding high quality decorative porcelain ceramics, glassware, table ware and collectables for which they have won global recognition. In 1901 King Edward VII granted them a royal warrant in reward for their “Services to the Empire” which also allowed them to use the word “Royal” in their name.

The “Ships Figureheads” Series represented a new genre for them to add to their already very extensive range. The series of eight models was characterized by meticulous detail, historical accuracy and represented actual figureheads preserved in various museum and dockyards in the U.S.A. and Europe.



Fine Bone China Mug
Manufacturer unknown
 Ships illustrated on mug are HMS Ajax, HMS Hood & HMS Ark Royal

This Figurehead is believed to have been released as a limited edition of 950 pieces.

The original ship’s figurehead of HMS Ajax III is held in the collection of The National Maritime Museum, London.

Stamps, Covers & Postal History

The technical information in relation to each ship given in the respective Stanley Gibbons catalogues has been greatly expanded here by this Author.

 Falkland Islands

Stanley Gibbons Catalogue # SG 310

Stanley Gibbons Catalogue # SG 310w
Inverted Watermark

One of a set of 4 stamps issued by the Falkland Islands 13 December 1974 to commemorate the 35th Anniversary of the “Battle of the River Plate”. 

Designer J.W.  Printed by Lithography.  Printer Harrison & Sons London.   

All multicoloured. Watermark “Multiple St Edwards Crown CA”.  Perf 14. (Note 1)                  
                                                                                                                                     

The set comprised:

SG 307   2p    HMS Exeter IV 8 x 6 Light Cruiser. 1929 – 1942

                       Battle Honours: River Plate 1939, Malaya 1942, Sunda Strait 1942 

SG 308   6p    HMNZS Achilles V  8 x 6 Light Cruiser.1932 – 1948. (Note 2) 

                         Battle Honours: River Plate 1939, Guadalcanal 1942-1943, Okinawa,  
                         1945                        

SG 309   8p    Admiral Graf Spee, 6 x 11 and 8 x 5.9” guns German heavy cruiser (pocket battleship).

                           1934 - 1939

SG 310   16p   HMS Ajax VII 8 x 6” Light Cruiser. 1934 – 1949

                          Battle Honours: River Plate 1939, Mediterranean 1940-1941,
                          Matapan 1941, Greece 1941, Crete1941, Malta convoys 1941, Aegean 1944,   
                          Normandy 1944, South France 1944

SG 310w     As SG 310 but with inverted watermark

2p, 6p and 16p value designs have the German Pocket Battleship “Graf Spee” in background.

Notes:

1. Battle Honours listed are those awarded to each Royal Navy ship
2. Sold to Royal Indian Navy 1948 and renamed RIN Delhi. Disposed of 1978

Liberia

Stanley Gibbons Catalogue # SG 1125

One of a set of 6 stamps issued by Liberia in 1972 to commemorate “Famous Ships of the British Royal Navy”

All multicoloured. (Note 1).

The set comprised:

SG 1125   3c    HMS Ajax III with the ship’s figurehead, 3^rd Rate Frigate, 74 guns, 1809  
                          – 1864.  Vessel in background unknown               

SG 1126   5c    HMS Hogue I, 3^rd Rate Frigate, 74 guns, Completed as a steam ship.1811 – 1865.

                           Battle Honours: Baltic 1854 -1855. 

SG 1127   7c    HMS Ariadne III, 6^th Rate, 20 guns, 1816 – 1841.

SG 1128   15c  HMS Royal Adelaide I ex HMS London (renamed 1827), 1^st Rate, 104 guns, 1827 –

                            1860.

SG 1129   20c  HMS RinaldoII, Steam Sloop, 17 guns, 1860 – 1884

SG 1130   25c  HMS Nymphe IV, Sail / Steam, Sloop, 8 guns (main), 1888 – 1920.

Notes:

1. Battle Honours listed are those awarded to this specific ship. 

 

Marshall Islands

 

 HMS Ajax at The Battle of the River Plate

One of a set of 3 stamps issued by the Marshall Islands 15 December 1989 to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the “Battle of the River Plate”. This issue was part of a series each commemorating a different aspect of World War II.

Printed by Lithography. All multicoloured.  Perf 13.5 (Note 1).                                                                                                                                              

The set comprised:

 

MH 277*  45c  HMS Ajax VII 8 x 6” Light Cruiser. 1934 – 1949

                          Battle Honours: River Plate 1939, Mediterranean 1940-1941,
                          Matapan 1941, Greece 1941, Crete1941, Malta convoys 1941, Aegean 1944,   
                          Normandy 1944, South France 1944

MH 278*  45c   HMNZS Achilles V  8 x 6 Light Cruiser.1932 – 1948. 

                          Battle Honours: River Plate 1939, Guadalcanal 1942-1943, Okinawa,  
                          1945                        

MH 279*  45c   HMS Exeter IV 8 x 6 Light Cruiser. 1929 – 1942

                          Battle Honours: River Plate 1939, Malaya 1942, Sunda Strait 1942

* Michel catalogue numbers

 Notes:

1. Battle Honours listed are those awarded to this specific ship. 

Uruguay

A set of three stamps to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the “Battle of the River Plate” was issued in December 2009.

$10 HMS Ajax
$12 HMNZ Achilles
$15 HNS Exeter

- Illustrations to be added -

Covers

A representative collection of covers featuring the Cruiser HMS Ajax

 

Ship's Bells

In the world of maritime memorabilia a ship's bell is arguably the most eagerly sought after relic when a ship is broken up at the end of her useful life or wrecked. In fact it might be called the maritime collector's Holy Grail. A collector should be aware of certain criteria before entering the market as a potential purchaser.

 

Many ships bells have interesting, some even fascinating, stories attached to them. The bells from both the Cruiser Ajax and the frigate which followed her each have their own intriguing stories touched by mystery. An illustrated article on the subject is nearing completion and planned to be ready to be published here in August 2015. 

 

 

Miscellaneous Items

Bar Beer Pump Handle Clip-On Sign
H.M.S. Ajax Ale
Brewed by The Cottage Brewery,
Lovington, Somerset, England.

Lapel Pin
OptimisT Club, Town of Ajax, Ontario,
A unisex Service Club which meets at the Ajax Community Centre twice monthly





Ditty Box

A ditty box is a small bag or box in which a sailor kept his small tools, items for sewing such as needles and thread, minor equipment, writing materials and those special personal articles. The name may derive from nautical slang. According to John Rogers in “Origins of Sea Terms: A modern glossary of seagoing terminology” the bags or boxes were an essential part of the sailor's sea-going wardrobe.

Here is a potpourri of hopefully interesting items. Pieces about the Navy, sailors’ yarns being the stories and experiences they would chat about with their shipmates, of titbits picked up here and there, anecdotal “stuff”, other things noted seen or read.

This page should always be regarded as “work in progress”.


SEAMEN'S PHRASES & NAVAL LANGUAGE:

The English language has over centuries become littered with seamen's  and naval words and phrases which are now in common usage with the average user having no idea as to their origin. Here are just a few examples:

➢ “A square meal” – Sailors in the days of sail in Nelson’s navy, each had their own individual 
      “platter”, it being a square piece of wood on which to have their meals.

➢ "Bosn's Locker" - broom closet

➢ "Brow" - Entrance to the ship

➢ "Buffer" or "The Buffer" - Chief Boatswain (pronounced "Bosun")

➢ "Bulkhead" - Wall

➢ “Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey” or “It’s brass monkey weather” -  
      Cannonballs used to be stored aboard warships in piles, on a brass frame or tray called a
      "monkey". In very cold weather the brass would contract, spilling the cannonballs: hence very
      cold  weather is "cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey".

➢ "Crusher" - Regulating Petty Officer (A ship's policeman)

➢ "CO's Cabin" - Commanding Officer's cabin

➢ "Davy Jones' locker" - Sea bed

➢ "Deck" - Floor

➢ "Deck-head" - Ceiling

➢ "Duff" - Dessert

➢ "Galley" - Kitchen

➢ "Gash" - Garbage

➢ "Hatch" - Door in the deck

➢ "Jimmy" or "Number One" - Ship's Executive Officer

➢ "Kye" - Hot chocolate

➢ "Navy Gravy" - Ketchup

➢ "Porthole" - Window

➢ "Scrambled eggs" - The gold oak leaves on a senior officers cap.

➢ "Scran" - Food

➢ “Shove off” - to push away from.

➢ "Stand easy" -  take a break

➢ "Stores" - Supplies

For a much more extensive listing I suggest you go to the following site dedicated to such words and phrases:
              http://www.navy.mil/navydata/traditions/html/navyterm.html

ROYAL NAVY SIGNALS

Probably the best known signal ever made in the Royal Navy was that made by Admiral Lord Nelson to his fleet at the commencement of the Battle of Trafalgar on 21 October 1805, it was “England expects that every man will do his duty” (Ibid – Bibliography “Trafalgar, The Men, The Battle, The Storm”, P149). They did and the combined French and Spanish fleets were strategically annihilated.

The Royal Navy of the Napoleonic era served under the most draconian discipline legislation to the inclusion of extremely barbaric sentences of physical punishment that one could imagine; a ship’s Captain literally held the sentence of death in his hands in dispensing justice to his crew as he thought fit.

If one were to allow a humourist a rewrite of that signal under today’s liberal social attitudes compounded by Health & Safety at Work legislation and anti-discrimination statutes, then add some imaginative licence the resulting scenario would be at the very least surprising. Read on:-

NELSON AT TRAFALGAR 2012
A Present Day Humourist's View 

Nelson: "Order the signal, Hardy."

Hardy: "Aye, aye sir."

Nelson: "Hold on, this isn't that I dictated to Flags. What's the meaning of this?"

Hardy: "Sorry sir?"

Nelson (reading aloud): “England expects every person to do his or her duty, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, religious persuasion or disability. What gobbledygook is this for God's sake?"

Hardy: "Admiralty policy, I'm afraid, sir. We're an equal opportunities employer now. We had the devil's own job getting "England" past the censors, lest it be considered racist."

Nelson: "Gadzooks, Hardy. Hand me my pipe and tobacco."

Hardy: "Sorry sir. All naval vessels have now been designated smoke-free working environments."

Nelson: "In that case, break open the rum ration. Let us splice the main brace to steel the men before battle."

Hardy: "The rum ration has been abolished, Admiral. It’s part of the Government's policy on binge drinking."

Nelson: "Good heavens, Hardy. I suppose we'd better get on with it full speed ahead."

Hardy: "I think you'll find that there's a 4 knot speed limit in this stretch of water."

Nelson: "Damn it man! We are on the eve of the greatest sea battle in history. We must advance with all dispatch. Report from the crow's nest, please."

Hardy: "That won't be possible, sir."

Nelson: "What?"

Hardy: "Health and Safety have closed the crow's nest, sir. No harness; and they said that rope ladders don't meet regulations. They won't let anyone up there until proper scaffolding can be erected."

Nelson: "Then get me the ship's carpenter without delay, Hardy."

Hardy: "He's busy knocking up a wheelchair access to the foredeck Admiral."

Nelson: "Wheelchair access? I've never heard anything so absurd."

Hardy: "Health and safety again, sir. We have to provide a barrier free environment for the differently abled."

Nelson: "Differently abled? I've only one arm and one eye and I refuse even to hear mention of the word. I didn't rise to the rank of Admiral by playing the disability card."

Hardy: "Actually, sir, you did. The Royal Navy is under represented in the areas of visual impairment and limb deficiency."

Nelson: "Whatever next? Give me full sail. The salt spray beckons."

Hardy: "A couple of problems there too, sir. Health and safety won't let the crew up the rigging without hard hats. And they don't want anyone breathing in too much salt, haven't you seen the adverts?"

Nelson: "I've never heard such infamy. Break out the cannon and tell the men to stand by to engage the enemy."

Hardy: "The men are a bit worried about shooting at anyone Admiral."

Nelson: "What? This is mutiny!"

Hardy: "It's not that, sir. It's just that they're afraid of being charged with murder if they actually kill anyone. There are a couple of legal-aid lawyers on board, watching everyone like hawks."

Nelson: "Then how are we to sink the Frenchies and the Spanish?"

Hardy: "Actually, sir, we're not."

Nelson: "We're not?"

Hardy: "No, sir.  The French and the Spanish are our European partners now. According to the Common Fisheries Policy we shouldn't even be in this stretch of water. We could get hit with a claim for compensation."

Nelson: "But you must hate a Frenchman as you hate the devil."

Hardy: "I wouldn't let the ship's Diversity Co-ordinator hear you saying that sir. You'll be up on disciplinary report."

Nelson: "You must consider every man an enemy, who speaks ill of your King."

Hardy: "Not any more, sir. We must be inclusive in this multicultural age. Now put on your Kevlar vest; it's the rules. It could save your life"

Nelson: "Don't tell me, Health and Safety. Whatever happened to rum, sodomy and the lash?"

Hardy: As I explained, sir, rum is off the menu! And there's a ban on corporal punishment."

Nelson: "What about sodomy?"

Hardy: "I believe that is now legal, sir."

Nelson: "In that case................... Kiss me, Hardy."

The Naval Hymn & Naval Prayer

The Church Pendant

The Royal Naval Church Pendant evolved from the English–Dutch wars of the 17th century being made up from the then current English and Dutch ensigns. It was flown by both sides to indicate that the ships were at prayers and that there was to be a cessation of hostilities between both sides.

In 1941 a Royal Naval ship would fly the Church Pendant at the peak or gaff when holding a service on board to indicate to other vessels that “The ship’s company is at prayers” as a signal for passing vessels to proceed quietly and slowly in respect. The Royal Navy still flies it today for the same purpose.

The 1934 Royal Navy Signals Handbook, which, with very few changes was still in use when the cruiser Ajax was involved in the Battle for Crete, has the entry:
          89 CHURCH PENDANT
               (Flown at) Singly, at the peak or gaff in harbour: - “The ship’s company is at prayers”.
               It did have other meanings when flown singly at other positions or when flown in  
               conjunction with other flags. e.g. when flown singly just above the signal platform it
               indicated “Man overboard”.   
                           Source: Mr Jim Smith, “ The River Plate Veterans and Families Association”,
                                                                retired Petty Officer, Royal Navy.

The Navy Prayer 

Royal Navy Chaplain’s Badge

O eternal Lord God, who alone spreadest out the heavens and rulest the raging of the sea; who hast compassed the waters with bounds until day and night come to an end: Be pleased to receive into thy almighty and most gracious protection the persons of us thy servants and the Fleet in which we serve. Preserve us from the dangers of the sea and of the air and from the violence of the enemy; that we may be a safeguard unto our most gracious Sovereign Lady, Queen Elizabeth and her dominions, and a security for such as pass on the seas upon their lawful occasions; that the inhabitants of our Islands and Commonwealth may in peace and quietness serve thee our God; and that we may return in safety to enjoy the blessings of the land with the fruits of our labours and with a thankful remembrance of thy mercies to praise and glorify thy holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Source: Royal Navy, Chaplaincy Services

The Navy Hymn

Hear the Choir of the Northern Baptist Association, England, singing this hymn:




The words of the hymn now commonly known as “The Navy Hymn” came from William Whiting, an Anglican of Winchester in England who originally wrote them in 1860 as a poem reputedly influenced by surviving his ship sinking in a violent storm and by the words in verses 23 to 31 of Psalm 107. The text was published the following year in the first edition of Hymns Ancient & Modern, a hymnal which was quickly adopted throughout England. Whiting many years later became headmaster of Winchester College Choristers School.

John Dykes, an English Anglican clergyman, composed the tune "Melita" to accompany the 1861 published version of the hymn. Dykes was a well-known composer of nearly three hundred hymn tunes, many of which are still in use today. "Melita" is an archaic term for Malta, a Mediterranean island with an ancient seafaring tradition which had long been a British colony and Royal Navy base and was the site of a shipwreck mentioned in Acts of the Apostles.

This hymn is best described by Wikipedia as “a hymn traditionally associated with seafarers, particularly in the maritime armed services. It was popularized by the Royal Navy and the United States Navy in the late 19th century, and variations of it were soon adopted by many branches of the armed services in the United Kingdom and the United States. Services who have adapted the hymn include the Royal Marines, Royal Air Force, the British Army, the United States Coast Guard and the United States Marine Corps, as well as many navies of the British Commonwealth. Accordingly, it is known by many names, variously referred to as the Royal Navy Hymn, the United States Navy Hymn or just The Navy Hymn, but most often by either the first or last line of its first verse “Eternal Father Strong to Save” or “For Those in Peril on the Sea". The hymn has a long tradition in civilian maritime contexts as well, being regularly invoked by ship's chaplains and sung during services on ocean crossings.

Several versions now exist, I offer the 1861 version.

Verse 1:
Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bid'st the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!

Verse 2:

O Christ! Whose voice the waters heard
And hushed their raging at Thy word,
Who walked'st on the foaming deep,
And calm amidst its rage didst sleep;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!

Verse 3:

Most Holy Spirit! Who didst brood
Upon the waters dark and rude,
And bid their angry tumult cease,
And give, for wild confusion, peace;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!

Verse 4:

O Trinity of love and power!
Our brethren shield in danger's hour;
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
Protect them wheresoe'er they go;
Thus evermore shall rise to Thee
Glad hymns of praise from land and sea.

______________

PSALM 107

Verses 23 to 31

²³ Those who go down to the sea in ships,
      Who do business on great waters,

²⁴ They see the works of the Lord,
      And His wonders in the deep.

²⁵ For He commands and raises the stormy wind,
      Which lifts up the waves of the sea.

²⁶ They mount up to the heavens,
      They go down again to the depths;
      Their soul melts because of trouble.

²⁷ They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man,
      And are at their wits’ end.

²⁸ Then they cry out to the Lord in their trouble,
      And He brings them out of their distresses.

²⁹ He calms the storm,
      So that its waves are still.

³⁰ Then they are glad because they are quiet;
      So He guides them to their desired haven.

³¹ Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness,
      And for His wonderful works to the children of men!

The Patron Saint of Sailors & Seafarers

St. Nicholas of Tolentino

Feast Day September 10th

St. Nicholas of Tolentino, was a member of the austere Order of The Hermits of St. Augustine. Born about 1246, he died on 10th September 1310. His tomb lies in Tolentino. He was canonised by Pope Eugene IV in 1446.   

A traditional account has it that a ship in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, caught by a storm, was forced into shallow waters where it became grounded. The sailors were unable to manoeuvre it back into deeper water. Accounts of Bishop Nicholas' help to distressed sailors had already spread far and wide. The sailors called on Nicholas for aid, even though they were distant from him, as they believed they might be saved by his prayer and intervention.
Nicholas actually appeared on the ship and gave the sailors a helping hand. Together they retied and strengthened the ropes holding the masts and worked with poles to pry the ship away from the threatening rocks into deeper water. As soon as the boat was freed and able to again set sail, the image of Nicholas vanished.
The ship took refuge in a calm harbor and the sailors went looking
for a church where they could thank God for their rescue. It so happened that they had taken shelter in Myra and made their way to the cathedral church. Seeing a number of priests, they were suddenly startled to see Bishop Nicholas himself, whom they recognized from the image they had seen on shipboard, giving them assistance. They asked Nicholas how he had heard them and been able to come to their rescue. Nicholas replied that a life devoted to God allows a person to be so clear-sighted as to be able to actually see others in danger and hear their calls for help. The bishop urged the sailors to devote their lives to God and, thereby, to help people in need.

Icon: Niculita Darastean, Romania St Nicholas Centre Collection
Source: http://www.stnicholascenter.org/pages/about-st-nicholas-center/

Note - The St Nicholas Center is entirely web based.

A prayer:
Heavenly Father, in imitation of Christ your son our Lord, Saint Nicholas of Tolentino miraculously calmed the raging oceans and saved a shipboard crew from being lost at sea. Through his intercession, grant protection of all those serving in the sea services. May their hope be firmly anchored in the promises of Christ, and may they always seek and find the Light of Christ, their true compass and guide.

Update to Ships Named Ajax

Ship particulars re written for Ajax's 1, 2, 3 and 4 Click hear for update