Training the Reserves
From 1874 to 1968, HMS Unicorn spent almost 100 years in the service of the Royal Naval Reserves (RNR) and Royal Naval Volunteer Reserves (RNVR).
At the time of the ship’s arrival in Dundee in 1873, the city had the largest naval reserve unit in Scotland, with the recruits being schooled in carbine, gunnery, and cutlass drills.
Unicorn’s century as a naval reserve ship saw thousands of recruits train on board, including over 1,500 from the Women’s Royal Naval Service (WRENS).
The ship also played an important role in both the First and Second World War, acting as a recruiting station and naval headquarters for the Tay region.
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The Great War
On the outbreak of war in 1914, hundreds of recruits from HMS Unicorn were drafted into the newly formed Royal Naval Division.
This infantry division, consisting of Royal Navy and Royal Marine reservists, would see action in Gallipoli, the Balkans, and the battlefields of Northern France.
One of the first groups to be drafted into the new division were the members of Unicorn’s Silver Band who – alongside their instruments – were sent to Belgium in the failed defence of Antwerp (1914).
The Great War
On the outbreak of war in 1914, hundreds of recruits from HMS Unicorn were drafted into the newly formed Royal Naval Division.
This infantry division, consisting of Royal Navy and Royal Marine reservists, would see action in Gallipoli, the Balkans, and the battlefields of Northern France.
One of the first groups to be drafted into the new division were the members of Unicorn’s Silver Band who – alongside their instruments – were sent to Belgium in the failed defence of Antwerp (1914).
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The WRENS and World War Two
The Women’s Royal Naval Service (WRENS) was established in 1917, becoming the first branch of the armed services to recruit women.
During World War Two, Unicorn became an important training centre for the WRENS, helping to recruit radio operators, meteorologists, bomb range makers, coders, and boat crew.
Between 1940 and 1945, over 1,500 WRENS trained on board Unicorn and in 1941 they received a special visit from King George VI and Queen Elizabeth.
The WRENS and World War Two
The Women’s Royal Naval Service (WRENS) was established in 1917, becoming the first branch of the armed services to recruit women.
During World War Two, Unicorn became an important training centre for the WRENS, helping to recruit radio operators, meteorologists, bomb range makers, coders, and boat crew.
Between 1940 and 1945, over 1,500 WRENS trained on board Unicorn and in 1941 they received a special visit from King George VI and Queen Elizabeth.
