Themes

Boy seamen parading the emblems of the different British Colonies as part of the Empire Day celebrations in Portsmouth, 1908. (RNM)

This theme highlights aspects of life and work in the Royal Navy. Some of the places and the activities presented are familiar but others may take you by surprise.

Everyone knows that the Navy has ships and submarines and crews spend much of their time at sea but the changing history of the Navy’s many Shore Establishments is often overlooked. In this section take a look at the stone frigates, where the Navy’s people have lived onshore over the past century.

The theme emphasises the human and humane side of naval life. Read the stories in Humanitarian Relief to find out about the Navy’s long record of helping others in crisis and, in Flying the Flag, of its great tradition of creating spectacular and colourful entertainment around the world.

Naval service whether in peace or war takes people away from home. Departure and absence become part of normal life, so keeping in touch with family and friends is important. Letters Home shares fascinating examples of the different means of communication the Navy has provided and explains why letters are valuable for the study of history. Prisoners of War acknowledges that seamen are vulnerable to being taken prisoner during wartime and focuses on amazing stories from World War One, World War Two and the Korean War. Many naval servicemen spent long years held prisoner, often under very poor conditions.

Over the 20th century the Navy has provided a wide range of dress from formal uniforms to practical work and safety clothing. Visit the How to: Understand a Uniform chapter to learn about the many types of dress, what they are for, where and when they are to be worn, and how they identify the different ranks and jobs held by the Navies’ people.