From the “Wyles Family of Duddington Blog“:
‘Author’s Note: My Great (paternal) Grandfather – Archibald Britton Wyles (1887-1941) – served in the “Royal Navy Air Service” (RNAS) during WWI (1917-1919). According to his War Record (a copy of which we found in the National Archives) – he served aboard a number of ships named “HMS President” (we think “I” and “II”). Our research suggests that these were either concrete ships built on the river-bank of the Thames (based in London) – or permanently moored ships performing more or less the same function. What was this function? We have been told that there was an “administrative” function (handling the tens of thousands of written files pertaining to all the enlisted men) – and and “anti-aircraft” function, the latter involving the defence of London (and East England) from aerial attack involving Imperial German aeroplanes and Zeppelins (the latter Airships were used by the Germans to bomb various areas in and around London). The MOD even told me that the Record Office keeping all the military records was once hit – causing a problem researching Veterans who fought in WWI. A third function involved “HMS President” ships acting as “training vessels” for new recruits. Obviously, the ship mentioned in this article (HMS Saxifrage) is NOT the “HMS President” my relative served aboard (as it arrived on the scene a little too late) – but it is curious that until yesterday – this ship was unknown to me despite all the research I have carried–out concerning this matter. HMS Saxifrage was a “Q-Ship” ( or “Queenstown-Ship”) as it was made in Ireland which was then still part of the British Empire. A “Q-Ship” was designed to look like an unarmed merchant vessel so as to attract the Imperial German U-Boats. However, these innocuous-looking ships were in fact heavily-armed and manned by specially trained Royal Navy crews – whose job it was to “sink” these enemy U-Boats using deception. It was not until 1921, that “HMS Saxifrage” became “HMS President”. I do feel a comradeship with this vessel, however, as it inherited the name of a ship my relative proudly served upon. I hope the funds and expertise can be found to save this ship as it is an important part of our nation’s heritage. ACW (14.7.2026).
SANGHA KOMMUNE (SSR) 