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[Kazza82]

Hi - can anyone identify which ship this photo may have been taken on?  Winston Churchill is seated.  One of the navy sailors in the background was born in 1928, so am I correct in assuming that this photo would have been taken post WWII?  He emigrated to NZ in 1952.  Any help would be appreciated as the family would like to know the name of the ship.  I have tried reverse searching the photo but cannot find any answers.  thank you. Karen.

[PhiloNauticus]

Mmmmmm… how sure are you that it is Winston Churchill ?   I can see the resemblance with the gent at the end of the sitters, but I do not think it is Winston…

The ship is clearly a large[-ish] one – being able to fit a ceremonial guard, plus rows of seated guests and the large stanchions would suggest a sizeable quarterdeck.   This would indicate that the type of ship is a cruiser. It is also clearly post-WW2 = all those rows of medals being worn show that

The New Zealand connection offers a clue – the Royal New Zealand Navy commissioned three cruisers post-WW2:

BLACK PRINCE – 1946 – 61, but laid up in reserve from 1955
BELLONA – 1946  - 56
ROYALIST 1956 – 66

SO, if this is a photo showing RNZN personnel… on a cruiser… it must be one of these.

Could I suggest the most likely would be the ROYALIST.   She was taken over by NZ in 1956 and checking with contemporary newspapers, it was reported that the hand over, at Plymouth [UK],  in July 1956, was attended by the NZ Prime Minister and his wife [Mr & Mrs Holland I believe}, who was accompanied by the First Sea Lord, Viscount Cilcennin

Could these be the people in the front row seats ?

For a history of Royalist in NZ service, see:

https://rnzncomms.org/what-where-wither-when-hmnzs-royalist-1956-1966/

...and you can see the extent of the quarterdeck of this class of cruiser in this pic:

https://preview.redd.it/1czrxws0le281.png?width=960&crop=smart&auto=webp&s=885f0c6294c759ce9304c869ff12ce42496ea665

[Philip L]

This may have nothing to do with this photo above but just to mention this in case it is relevant somehow. If the sailor was born in 1928 it is possible he may have been in the Royal navy at 18 years of age (1946).

My father, Norman Lock (WW2 Royal Navy) told me when he was alive that he was, at one stage, on the same ship as Winston Churchill. I am reasonably sure that he was referring to the Queen Mary.

On the general Photograph sharing board (RNRAF Forum) there is a photo titled Father and Sailor in New York USA. Close to end of WW2 or end of WW2. The photo is of my father and unidentified Royal Navy sailor at Jack Dempsey's bar, New York, USA. I found a date on the back of the photo. 28 February 1946. So, it was after WW2. I think the reason my father was in the USA was because HMS Findhorn was returned to the USA government under a lease deal.

In the reply under this New York photo is a copy of my father's WW2 travel list. Under 1946 it has America. New York. Back to UK on Q Mary. I think this would have been after February the 28th, 1946, after WW2.

I found on Google that there are some stills from a short film. Churchill on Queen Mary (1946). Date found in old file 04/04/1946. Several shots of the liner Queen Mary entering Southhampton harbor.

Philip L

https://www.britishpathe.com/asset/69404/






 

[Kazza82]

thank you both for your reply.  It gives me something to go on.  The family do think that it is Winston Churchill - 2nd from the end of the people sitting - with no hat .  I will look at the links and suggestions you have both made.  Kind regards, Karen W.