OLD DEVONPORT . UK
www.olddevonport.uk
 

ROYAL NAVY IN OLD DEVONPORT

NAVY DAYS, JULY 1948

Plymouth's second Navy Days of 1948 was held over Saturday July 31st to Monday August 2nd 1948.  It was open from 12.30pm until 5.45pm on each of those days.

Ships in and around the Prince of Wales Basin (Basin number 5) that were open to the public included battleships HMS "Vanguard" and HMS "Howe" (upper deck only), aircraft carrier HMS "Implacable", destroyers HMS "Alamein" and HMS "Saint James; submarines HMS "Astute" and HMS "Tireless".  A midget submarine was scheduled to dive and resurface at 2.35pm, 3.50pm, and at 5.05pm, and HMS "Alaunia" was hosting an internal combustion engine exhibition.  Four vessels could be seen but not boarded: cruisers HMS "Jamaica" and HMS "Orion"; aircraft carrier HMS "Terrible" and destroyer HMS "Comet", which was where the torpedoes and depth charges were to be fire from.   There was also a gun laying range, a .22 rifle range, a torpedo and anti-submarine weapons exhibition, and a display of divers at work.  In the Drill Shed were models of warships, displays of guns and marine and aero engines and naval relics.  The Cinema was open at 3pm and 4pm and the Church of Saint Nicholas was open to visitors.  Each day ended with the "Changing of the Guard" by the Seamen Guard of the Royal Naval Barracks at 6pm and the "Beating the Retreat" Ceremony by the Massed bands of His Majesty's Royal Marines, Plymouth Command, at 6.20pm.  On the Sunday evening only Evensong was sung in the Church.

On the Saturday, July 31st, the number of visitors was 8,489; on the Sunday, August 1st, 9,205; and on the Bank Holiday Monday, August 2nd, 12,007.  Whitsun's Navy Days was the better supported.

Navy Days was held again in April 1949 and July 1949.