HMS Cavalier – From Medina to Medway
The destroyer, HMS Cavalier, is the only remaining ship of this type and period and is a national monument dedicated to all those who served on such ships during WWII. She was built by J. Samuel White in East Cowes and launched in 1944. HMS Cavalier is now on display at Chatham Historic Dockyard and her propellor is situated on the esplanade in East Cowes.
The shipyards of the River Medina played a huge part in the industrial heritage of the Isle of Wight. Over 4,000 people were employed during the two World Wars and J. Samuel White built 39 different types of naval vessels including destroyers, frigates and torpedo boats. HMS Cavalier was fitted out in the Medina Yard, the Hammerhead Crane being used to lift the boilers and turbines fabricated in the engineering yard into the vessels. This exhibition explores the lives of the women and men, who built, sailed in and fought on HMS Cavalier during WWII.
This new exhibition at the Classic Boat Museum is a collaboration between Chatham Historic Dockyard, the Cavalier Association, the Isle of Wight Heritage Service, the Cowes Hammerhead Crane Trust, the East Cowes Heritage Centre and the Cowes Heritage and Community Group. Many individuals have contributed their stories and artefacts to this exhibition. Our thanks to the Cowes Waterfront Trust for their support and to Richard Johnstone-Bryden, author of HMS Cavalier – Destroyer 1944 for his advice and permission to use his images.
The exhibition runs until 31st October and admission is included with your museum ticket.
Zone South East