The Monmouth Branch of the Royal Naval Association (RNA) has enjoyed a ’cradle-to-grave’ association with the seventh HMS Monmouth, holding an annual remembrance service to the sailors lost during the 1914 Battle of Coronel.

However, it was announced on July 26th by UK Defence Minister Jeremy Quinn that the Type 23 frigate, left Royal Navy service at the end of June, with no farewell ceremony planned.

Monmouth member of the RNA were "saddened" to learn that the ship was to have no de-commissioning or paying-off ceremony to mark her withdrawal from The Fleet and disposal.

"We realised, of course, that she was reaching the end of her time and that Graham Ramsay’s ’baby’ had become Will King’s ’old lady’ said Mary Shipton, chairman for the Monmouth RNA.

So this year, as well as the usual dinner to commemorate the loss of the sixth HMS Monmouth at the Battle of Coronel on 1st November 1914, they intend to mark the passing of "our ship", F235 - The Black Duke with a farewell Coronel dinner and are pleased to hear that a number of her former Commanding Officers and crew will be attending.

The present ship, launched in 1991 and commissioned in 1993 saw action all over the world, protecting Britain’s interests in areas of tension and intercepting and destroying many millions of pounds worth of drugs destined for the streets of UK and Europe.

Her last deployment was escorting Britain’s new aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth during her flying trials off the East Coast of the USA.

’The Black Duke’, so-called as she was the only ship in the Royal Navy to have her name painted in black, rather than red, also flies a plain black flag in addition to the British ensign.

The ship had been expected to stay in service until 2026, but this would have required an expensive refit to allow the ship to stay in service. Meanwhile, the crew transferred to her sister ship HMS Montrose in the Gulf to form that ship’s second crew protecting UK merchant shipping.

The Annual Coronel Remembrance Service will be held in St Mary’s Priory Church at 10.45am (for 11pm Act of Remembrance) on Monday 1st November 2021, all are welcome to attend.

The sixth HMS Monmouth was sunk at the Battle of Coronel with the loss of 738 sailors and marines in 1914 and, on 1 November every year, the town commemorates their loss at St Mary’s Church.