Sir Richard Grenville

[Portsdown]

In the foyer of the building I work in is a ships bell. It come from the most recent HMS Grenville, the U Class (yes, I know) Destroyer launcher in 1942 that ended her days as the Trials Ship for the Admiralty Surface Weapons Research Establishment. So where did the name come from? Well it came from an Admiral.

 

Sir Richard Grenville was straight out of Monty Python.

 

Vice Admiral Sir Richard Grenville, was an Elizabethan soldier and seaman who was the son of the last Captain of the Mary Rose. He fought on land in Turkey and Ireland, and helped found the Roanoke Colony. He missed the Armada battles, although he helped prepare the defences. He died at the Battle of Flores (1591) during which he faced 53 Spanish ships with just his flagship, HMS Revenge.

 

After at least 12 hours (some sources say 15) of battle, still outnumbered 51 to 1 (two of his opponents had collided in the night), nearly out of powder, with only 16 men uninjured from 250, with the ship totally dismasted, with six foot of water in the hold and more coming in, and mortally wounded himself, he ordered the Gunner to blow the ship up. His officers refused and surrendered. Sir Richard was still roundly cursing his officers and men as knaves and dogs when he died two days later.

 

'Tis but a Flesh Wound!

Edited February 22, 2015 by Portsdown

[Sir Cloudsley-Shovell]

I was in Grenville Division at HMS Raleigh!