This is an article written by Vic Gellett who served in the Royal Navy (Fleet Air Arm).
The original Ark Royal was built for Sir Walter Raleigh and was named Ark Raleigh. In 1587, Queen Elizabeth purchased the ship from Raleigh for £5,000 (this sum was deducted from the total Raleigh owed the crown). Ark Raleigh became Ark Royal and was the flagship of Lord Howard of Effingham and the largest ship in the Royal Navy. The Howard family lived in Reigate Priory and so began the relationship between the Borough and HMS Ark Royal.
Her first action came in 1588 during the attack of the Spanish Armada. After the initial defeat of the Armada, Ark Royal led the chase of the fleeing ships into the North Sea and beyond the Firth of Forth.
Ark Royal, under the command of Howard, was involved in the raid of Cadiz in 1596 which resulted in the destruction of the Spanish Fleet at anchor.
Ark Royal was once more the flagship in 1599 when a Spanish invasion again threatened.
On the accession of James I, Ark Royal was named Anne Royal after his Consort, Anne of Denmark. The Ship remained in service until 1636 when she struck her own anchor and sank in shallow waters in the River Medway.
The second HMS Ark Royal was built in 1914 and was the first ship in history designed as a seaplane carrier. She saw action in the Gallipoli campaign as well as various actions in the Mediterranean. She was renamed HMS Pegasus in 1934 and continued life as a training ship.
The third Ark Royal was built in Birkenhead and commissioned in 1938. She was the first ship on which the hangars and flight deck were an integral part of the hull instead of an add-on or part of the super structure.
At the beginning of Second World War, an initiative called “Warship Week” encouraged cities, towns and boroughs throughout the country to sponsor a warship. The Borough of Reigate “adopted” HMS Ark Royal.
The Ship served in some of the most active naval theatres during the war, including protection of convoys supplying the besieged island of Malta. Aircraft from HMS Ark Royal damaged the German battleship Bismarck in an action that resulted in her eventual destruction.
Ark Royal survived several near misses and gained a reputation as a “lucky ship”. The Germans incorrectly reported her sunk on multiple occasions. Her luck ran out on 13 November 1941 when she was torpedoed by a German Submarine. Despite efforts to tow her to the safety of Gibraltar she sank the following day.
The Battle Ensign of this wonderful ship and the metal Ship crest were presented to the Borough of Reigate in recognition of their efforts during Warship Week and hung for many years in the Mayor’s Chambers and is now on display in the Town Hall. Reigate Sea Cadets were also permitted to change their name from T.S. Beatty to T.S. Ark Royal.
The fourth Ark Royal is perhaps the most famous of the ships named Ark Royal. She was intended to be called HMS Irresistible but was renamed after the third Ark Royal was lost in 1941.
Work began in 1943 in Birkenhead and she was commissioned in 1955. Ark Royal was the largest ship in the Royal Navy and saw service up to 1979. Close links between the ship and the Sea Cadets remained throughout her career and a large number of cadets were invited to sail on her during her service. It is interesting to note that a number of cadets who went on to join the Royal Navy, at some time served on board this fine ship.
The fifth Ark Royal was launched in 1981 by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and commissioned in 1985. She was a Through Deck Cruiser (a light aircraft carrier) and carried Harrier ‘Jump Jets’ and Sea King helicopters.
Once again, links between Reigate and the ship were forged through the Sea Cadets. The band from T.S. Ark Royal was invited to welcome her home from a deployment, by playing on the quayside when she returned to Portsmouth. Ark Royal was de-commissioned in 2011 and again, during her operational service, many Reigate Sea Cadets spent time on her whilst at sea.
Ark Royal, 1587, colourised version of an engraving by Claes Janszoon Visscher held in National Maritime Museum, London
HMS Ark Royal (1914), taken 1918 by Central News Photo Service, National Archives and records Administration
Stern view of the carrier HMS Ark Royal with Swordfish on the flight deck, (1939), Imperial War Museum
HMS Ark Royal North Atlantic, July 76
HMS Ark Royal (RO7) on the River Thames (2007), Ian Visits